A study on productivity & empowerment of women intensive sericulture sector of West Bengal

Sericulture is a women intensive sector where 60% of the workers are either family workers or hired female workers. Productive skill makes the presence of women invincible both in pre and post cocoon sectors. This larger participation is expected to raise their level of empowerment too. Higher level of empowerment is expected to induce the woman to usher improved productive technology. However field survey in Malda districts of West Bengal reveals a complete bleak picture. Neither productivity level, nor the empowerment level have reached the desired level, which calls for an immediate intervention and revision of policies.