Empowerment and livelihood of women artisans in the manamadurai pottery workers cooperative Cottage Industrial Society Ltd.

Involvement of women producers in all affairs creates intrinsic worth and greater attention to promote inclusive growth in all kind of business. Despite their substantial role in craft production and participation in cooperatives are limited due to social norms and traditional family system. Membership of women in cooperatives is only below 30 per cent; Women's involvement in governance of cooperatives continues to be limited. Number of research studies reveals that women work more than the male counterparts do. There is a general notion that from the women folks work were extracted to the maximum and they were not treated equal. In number of cases, they were not consulted, opinions not sort, have remote financial autonomy and above all, women were neglected in making decisions regarding family matters taken by their spouses. Experts are of the view that the scenario is changing and gone are the days where women were given less importance, now, one could witness a lot of change among the women and slowly they emerge as one of the main character in the family to be consulted and decisions taken with their consent only. Pottery manufacturing is one of the livelihoods for the women artisans in Manamadurai. In the pottery industry, women artisans carry out major activities in production and finishing the craft. Women folks sweat a lot to produce the pottery items, though these women artisans contribute, they are neglected by their spouses in all the important family and society activities. Hence, a study was taken up to know the present economic status of women artisans in Manamadurai