Bell Metal Industry of Assam in the Contemporary Market Environment: A Viability assessment

Handicraft industries are highly labor intensive cottage based industry spread all over the country. North-Eastern region of the country is also rich in craft works. Out of states of N-E region, in Assam there exist various types of crafts work like silk, bamboo and cane, terra-cotta, metal craft etc. Bell metal is the second largest handicraft of Assam. This industry had a glorious past, but now it faces stiff competition from cheap substitutes, machine made products etc. So a question arises whether this age-old, high employment generating, culturally important industry has a viable future or not in the contemporary market environment. Viability implies the ability to survive. In business sense, it relates to financial performance and position. So for assessment of economic and financial viability of bell metal industry, gross profit margin of the production units and income of the artisans associated with it are determined. For this study primary data are collected from the randomly selected sample at Sarthebari region where the bell metal craft of Assam is confined. From the result it is found that opportunities of bell metal industry is not ended till now, but there is lack of initiative for upliftment of it.