Studies on durrie weaving enterprise and its social implications in Rajasthan

Entrepreneurial activities are plenty and scope unlimited but durrie weaving has been identified as lucrative cottage level enterprise for rural people who have concept of good designing. A benchmark survey was conducted in three districts of Rajasthan namely Tonk, Dausa and Jaipur. Information regarding the existing practices of durrie weaving, availability and type of yarn, type of weaves, cost of looms and its marketing strategy were collected through well structured questionnaire. The results revealed that all the respondents wove durrie for commercial purpose. Majority of respondents (54%) said that durrie weaving was their family occupation. 79% respondents learnt durrie weaving from weaving units at the age of 15–25 years. Yarns were always purchased from local markets. The results also showed that 100% respondents used cotton, (27%) jute and (40–50%) wool yarns for durrie. Results revealed that 92–100% respondents used simple adda loom for weaving in all the three districts. Most of the times looms were constructed by local carpenters as it was economical. 68.9% respondents weave geometrical design. 86–94% respondents produced durries on order. Most of the respondents (79%) adopted this art to earn their livelihood and 14% wanted to supplement the family income.50% of respondents opined that durrie weaving gave assured income. It can thus be concluded that the durrie weaving in Rajasthan is a cottage industry scattered over all the nook and corners of the state with large number of weavers depending on it to eke out their livelihood. In other hand durrie weaving craft will also help in improving the professional skills of weaver, promotes marketing technology and developing entrepreneurship amongst the rural entrepreneurs.