Introduction – What is cottage industry? Importance of cottage industry 2) Its advantages (i) There is no exploitation. (ii) More people ge...
Introduction – What is cottage industry? Importance of
cottage industry 2) Its advantages (i) There is no exploitation. (ii) More
people get employment. (iii) it is a cure for many social evils which arise
from large scale industry. (iv) Worker remain independent 3) Difficulties in
the way of cottage industries. 4) Suggestions for their development. 5)
Conclusion – Government is taking interest – conditions are likely to improve.
Essay on Cottage Industry and Its importance
Cottage industries, village industries, small scale
industries, handicrafts and large scale industries are the various terms which
are used for different types of production works, according to their size and
production. When a worker produces something with the simple tools, with the help
of his family members only, then he is said to be running a cottage industry.
The absence of big machines, electric power and hired labour are the features
of cottage industries. In our villagers, we see workers spinning and weaving
cloth. This is the main cottage industry of our country. Pottery, work-work,
metal-work, leather-work, basket-making, crushing of sugarcane, etc., are some other
important handicraft of our country.
The importance of cottage industries is very great for rural
as well as urban areas. In villages, farmers can carry on their cottage
industries side by side with their main occupation of agriculture. They are
important for them as they provide opportunities for part time employment. In
urban areas also the poor can start some cottage industries with their own
limited resources. They are indispensable for a poor country like India.
In cottage industries the question of the exploitation of
workers does not arise. The worker and his family being both the employer and
the employee themselves, get all the earning from their business. Even if in
some cases hired labourers are employed, the relations between them and the
employer remain healthy.
Big machines are labour saving devices. They are not used in
cottage industries. So if they are encouraged, more and more people get
employed. Besides this, they are good means for providing part-time employment.
The tendency towards centralization is inherent in large
scale industries. This leads to over-crowding and congestion in the towns.
Children and women are employed in big industries. Corruption becomes rampant.
But handicrafts solve all these problems. They are mostly run in the homes of
the workers. So the housing problem does not arise, other social ills are also
removed.
Further, the independence of the worker is maintained. The
work can be begun and stopped according to his convenience. No rigid-routine is
necessary. So in cottage industries the workers enjoy a marked sense of freedom
Cottage industries have to face many difficulties. They cannot
compete with large factories. As the products of the cottage industries are the
results of the labour of the workers, their cost remains high in comparison
with that of the mill-made goods. Workers are mostly poor. Sometimes, they find
it difficult to get raw material and the necessary tools for their work. So
these difficulties come in the way of the growth of handicrafts.
Some suggestions for the development of cottage industry may
now be made. The field of production for cottage and large scale industries
should be specified. The competition between these two spheres of production
should be replaced by co-operation. Credit facilities should be provided. This
will enable the workers to purchase raw materials and tools. Facilities for
marketing finished goods should be provided. The Government should undertake
research work for making simple and cheap machines. This will be very helpful
for the progress of cottage industries.
The government has always recognized the importance of
cottage industries. It established the Cottage Industries Board. All India
Khadi Development Board, and other such agencies for the production of
handicrafts. A large sum has always been allotted for their development in the
various Five Year plans of the country. As a result, much progress has been
made in this direction. Let us hope much more would be done for the small scale
industry in times to come.
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