Dr. A.H.M Mahbubur Rahman :
From time immemorial, the women of rural Bangladesh have been skilled in nakshikantha (traditional embroidery) stitching work. A large portion of rural women in Bangladesh are involved in the nakshikantha stitching work. They made different types of nakshi products like nakshikantha, pillow cover, sofa cover, bedcover, etc. It has now become an industry in the country. A recent study reveals the impact of Corona pandemic on women engaged in nakshi industry. The study mentioned that nakshi industry can play a vital role in providing employment opportunity to rural women. The study conducted in Jamalpur district where a large portion of women engaged in nakshi stitching work. It explores that during the Corona period women who work in nakshi industry faced numerous difficulties.
The study revealed that income of the nakshikantha stitching women (75.5%) has dropped down significantly since the Corona pandemic began. About 67.6 percent of the respondents mentioned that although they have been stitching nakshi products since the beginning of Corona but they have not been paid fully sometimes. A large portion of them (65.5%) mentioned that they could not sell their products during the Corona period. As a result, they could not pay the wages of the workers.
More than half of them (55.3%) stated that they could not pay back the loan money they have taken from NGOs. A very large portion (82.2%) of the total respondents mentioned that they did not get any government support for production and marketing of nakshi products during the Corona period. More than three-quarters (69.3%) of respondents mentioned capital crisis for nakshi products stitching. About one-third (31.6%) of the respondents reported that they did not get fair prices for their nakshi products. Almost all the respondents reported that they did not get any financial, food or hygiene support from government or non-government organizations.
Respondents also mentioned some other problems like: shortage of buyers; lack of exhibition system of nakshi products; women in this profession suffer more but earn less; needles and frames are to be purchased at one’s own expense; lack of government patronage and supervision; unscrupulous businessmen do not pay just prices; lack of seating during rainy season because there is water everywhere, etc. All these problems made their life and livelihood difficult to survive.
They have also mentioned potential growth of nakshi industry in the country. For example, more than half of the respondents (56.7%) think that with the necessary patronage, the nakshi work will spread across the country in the future. Around 64 percent of the respondents think that ‘Nakshi Palli’ should be constructed in every districts under the government initiative. Around 71 percent of them think that in the future they will be able to export nakshi products directly to abroad, etc.
Respondents participated in the survey recommended the following measures need to be taken for the widespread expansion of nakshi products. For example: incentive packages should to be allocated for nakshi stitching women; wages of workers need to be increased, loan at low interest rate should to be provided, seating place for work should to be arranged during rainy season, institutional training is required for those who want to enter in the industry, establishment of environment friendly Palli Nakshi Centers in all district and sub-district, arrangement of work for year round, to show respect to women who work in nakshi industry, etc.
Based on the findings the following recommendations are made as: providing incentive packages for women who suffered during Corona pandemic; to increase the wages of women workers in the nakshi industry or to fix justifiable wages; to bring them under the specific rules and regulations through proper supervision; government initiative needs to sale of nakshi products; to form group or associations in the respective areas with the poor women who will or will be engaged in nakshi work; provide loan to nakshi workers at low rate of interest; initiatives are needed to educate their children; health care for nakshi workers should be provided at free of cost; fairs and exhibitions have to be organized; creating a national web site with all the information related to nakshi products; to take appropriate steps to reduce the ferocity of middlemen and monopolists in the industry; negative attitude of the people in the society towards the women workers involved in this industry should be eliminated by providing adequate motivation; effective measures must be taken to ensure the safety of women workers.
If the problems of this industry created during the Corona period are solved, then women who are engaged in this industry their livelihood will be saved, the nakshi industry will be able to play a significant role in the economic development of the country. This industry will also be helpful in solving the unemployment problem of rural women. Besides, it would be possible to earn foreign currencies like the garment industry by exporting the nakshi products.
(Dr.Mahbubur Rahman is Asst. Professor and Chairman, Department of Social Work, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science & Technology University).
