Loss of traditional industry and a state of urban decay in small-scale industrial cluster: A case study of Bhagalpur, Bihar, India

Abstract

Developing countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have diverse cultural bases due to different regions, religions and resources. These countries have large numbers of small-scale industries which consist of a vast variety of traditional industries that have flourished and have become even more diverse following British rule in India. The advent of mechanised finished goods and laws and taxes has led to the decline of these industries, which continued even after the independence of India. Urban or rural communities have grown naturally without any planning or development norms. The concept of urban local government came into existence in India in 1992 after the 74th amendment of the constitution. Most of the urban centres had an industrial economic base, generally comprisimg cottage-based industries that existed in clusters inside the city. For example, Bhagalpur has been known for its silk products, Kanpur for its leather products and Moradabad for its brass industry. The rural area also had diverse small-scale traditional industries that used to cater to the unique demands of the community and reflected the craftsmanship and ethos of the community, hence becoming the identity of the place. The absence of planning in these industrial clusters has led to the decline of these industries, which has affected the socio-economic aspects of these communities. These urban/rural clusters of small-scale industries or cottage industries are in a state of decay either because of adverse government policies or because business has dried up as a result of mechanised goods being readily available on the market; the absence of community planning and basic amenities could also be a reason. The skilled artisans who were once employed and were masters of beautiful art are now working as daily labourers. More and more people are leaving their traditional jobs and hence the future of art and craft is at stake. This paper aims at identifying the issues facing these clusters, especially for cottage-based industries, so that further research can be carried out to solve the issues facing these communities. It focuses on the different dynamics that affect these communities and their relationship to better understand the problems. It also aims to understand the reason why most of the plans or programmes introduced by the Government have failed until now. The weaver community in Bhagalpur will be used as a case study in this paper. By considering different aspects, including infrastructure, raw materials, finance, social linkages to understand the issues, the paper can also be used as a reference for other studies.