Introduction:
Traditionally Assam is famous for its cottage industries. The cottage industries operated by the village communities include handloom, sericulture, cane and bamboo, carpentry, brass and bell–metal crafts, catering, tailoring, dressmaking, beauty culture, pottery, and furniture making on a small scale, etc. Cane and Bamboo are the major forest-based industries not only in Assam and India but also in the whole world. It is the only universally practiced industry in the world. The bamboo industry of Assam is concentrated in the production of Khorahi, Tukuri, Duli, etc. (baskets of different sizes and shapes), Chalani (sieve), Kula (winning fan), Dala (tray), fishing equipment like Polo, Jakoi, Khaloi, Chepa, etc., Dhara (mat), Jaapi (bamboo and leaf headgear), Musical instruments like Flute, Do tara, Gogona, etc., Murha (stool), Bisani (hand -fan), flower vases, umbrella handle, etc.
Jaapi is a noble symbol of Assamese civilization and folk culture and a part of cottage industry. Jaapi, i.e. bamboo umbrella is a traditional sun–shade headgear mainly used by farmers and other open-air workers. As the “Halua Jaapi” protects the farmers from rain and sunshine, the “Fulam Jaapi” reflects the beauty, culture, and unique culture of Assamese society. It was an imported product from China. It has been in use in Assam since the great Chinese traveler “Hiuen Tsang” came to Assam. It is advantageous for the workers because when they put on the jaapi, their hands remain free to work and these are comparatively cheaper. Different varieties of japi like Halua jaapi, Pitha jaapi, Sarudoiya jaapi, Bardolya jaapi, Can jaapi, etc. are produced in various designs and styles. Both plain and fulham (decorated) jaalis are produced by using bamboo and to know pat (palm leaf) and for decoration, it is colored cloth, mica, etc. For manufacturing ordinary jaapi, initially, the bamboo is split into small strips at the required sizes and then these strips are woven into a circular disc with a dome in the center in an open hexagonal design. Then some dried tokow leaves which are cut into required sizes are put in between two woven bamboo discs and then these are sewed securely with yarn and cane and an ordinary jaapi becomes ready. Then for decoration and to make it a full jaapi, it is used colored cloth, mica, resin, lesi, gum, etc. In the old days, fulam jaapies were used as headgear by females of rich and noble families. But now these are used for decoration and felicitation purposes. Though the use of halua jaapi has reduced in recent times, the use of fulham jaapi for decoration and felicitation purposes has increased. There is also a popular dance in Assam which is associated with jaapi. The japis are produced on a commercial scale and are sold both in the domestic and foreign markets. Nalbari deserves a special place for its Jaapi industry. Besides Nalbari, jaapis are manufactured in Sonitpur and Nagaon district of Assam, but these are on a small scale.
Jaapi and Nalbar:
Jaapi is an important bamboo product manufactured mainly in the Nalbari district of lower Assam. The jaapi industry is the main cottage industry of the district. The necessary raw materials of the craft i.e.
bamboo and tokow pat ( palm leaves) are abundantly available in Nalbari. The main source of livelihood of the villagers of Alengidal, Balilecha, Bhadra, Janigog, Mugkuchi, Tilana, Domahitola, Sutarkuchi, and Digheli of Nalbari district is the japi craft. The villagers inherited the craftsmanship and most of the people of the villages are engaged in the industry in different stages of manufacturing and also in trading. Almost 200 families in the villages are directly engaged in this industry. A relatively high concentration of japi industry-based families is in the villages of Digheli, Mugkuchi, and Tilana. Most of the families of the villages are engaged in japi making, its decoration, and trading. Almost 80 percent people of the village Tilana are engaged in the industry. This percentage is almost the same in the other two villages of the district. And 20-30 percent of people of the other above-mentioned villages are engaged in it. On average, the annual production of a manufacturing unit i.e. of a household in the villages is 15000 numbers which varies from 5000 to 30,000 numbers of different sizes. The size of japi processed by the units varies from 4 inches to 35 feet and price also varies from three hundred to thirty thousand based on size and different activities. Though the demand for halua quality of jaapi. The family members engaged in the industry get the profit share of the unit. It is reported by the owners of the manufacturing units that they receive 5 to 6 percent of the total sale value as profit. The cost of production of jaapi includes material costs and wages paid to the hired laborers.
The hired laborers are paid wages within the range of Rs.200 to Rs. 300 according to their skill and efficiency. These amounts are the income of the hired labourers and they get their livelihood from these. Most of the cultivators and small businessmen of the villages get subsidiary income from this industry.
Prospects:
The Jaapi manufacturing industry is a rural household industry in some villages of the district. Some households are getting primary occupation from the industry while others are getting subsidiary employment from it. The Industry has been providing a large number of employment to the people of Nalbari and other parts of the state both directly and indirectly and hence generates income for them. Since jaapi is a labor-intensive manufacturing industry of the state, it plays an important role in solving the rural poverty and unemployment problems. The family members of the rural households together with some Hired labourers are engaged in different stages of manufacturing in jaapi. Since hard physical labor is not required in manufacturing jaapis, the women, children, and elders are also engaged in the process.
Besides manufacturing, some persons of the villages are engaged in collecting raw materials and some others are in marketing the products. In the manufacturing units, both the family members and some hired members are engaged in the production process. It is a household industry and is based mainly on family labor and occasionally on hired labor. The households of the villages have transformed their own home into small industrial estates. Besides male members, the women and children of the families are also engaged in 300 to 30,000 based on size and different activities. Though the demand for halua quality of jaapi. Japi has reduced in recent times, and the demand for fulam japi has increased. Fulam japis are used for the decoration of homes, stages, gates, etc., and for felicitation with respect. Besides the permanent workers, some additional persons are also hired to engage in the units during the peak season, i.e. during March – April. This is the time of Rongali bihu of Assam in which fulam jaapis are demanded much. During this time, the artisans of the villages work day and night and also hire labor for wages to meet the demand for fulam jaapi in different parts of the state. Thus japi industry has been providing huge employment opportunities to the rural people of the district through which these people are earning their livelihood and has created prospects for the rural development of the state. It has a huge potential to create a market in a foreign country and to make it an export item.
Problems:
The jaali industry of Nalbari has played an important role in the generation of income and employment for the people for a long time. But still, it is at the subsistence level. These industries are now in the decaying stage due primarily to the shortage of raw materials, especially bamboo, lack of capital and technical know–how, lack of marketing facilities, low price level, etc. These problems need
Be addressed properly for the development of this age-old cottage industry. Interviewing the artisans of the villages it is found that scarcity of bamboo and low prices are the most acute problems that the jaali manufacturing units are facing. The problem of scarcity of bamboo has arisen due to deforestation. Compared to the increasing production cost, the manufacturing units are not able to raise the price level and this has reduced the profit of the units. Further, the middlemen associated with marketing and the decorators consume a large share of the profit while the actual artisans get only a little. So the economic condition of the artisans is not satisfactory. Due to the low rate of profit, the young generations are not interested in the manufacturing process of the industry. Lack of finance and scarcity of workers are also the problems of the units as revealed by some units of the industry. Besides, the problem of marketing also creates a negative impact on the industry. Jaapi of Nalbari can capture the markets of the whole state but very often it goes outside the state. Thus the export earning is very limited from the jaapi industry.
Conclusion:
The cane and bamboo industry of Assam and jaapi industry of Nalbari district is socio–economic and cultural heritage not only of the state and Nalbari district but of the whole nation. It does not only provide utility and decorative articles but is a part and parcel of the socio–economic, cultural, and religious life of the Assamese society. The industry fed many households in the Region and helped solve the problem of unemployment. Only the cane and bamboo industry can generate mass employment opportunities with minimum investment and indigenous technology. So, on the one hand, it helps in solving the unemployment problem and the Net District Domestic Product (NDDP) of the district can be strengthened on the other. As Nalbari is an industrially underdeveloped district, the bamboo-based jaapi industry can play a leadership role in the economic development of the district. If the industry removes its problems, more people can be developed properly and measures can be taken for involved in its production and marketing process. Tray has a very important role to play in this industry. Thus, cane and bamboo and especially jaapi industrially backward district of Assam.