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Researcher : Sayema Nazneen
History of Satranji, a floor-mat traditionally prepared
from the fibres of cotton, jute, coconut etc. recorded
back in the medieval India (6-8 B.C) and was mainly
used for playing chess. Nowadays it is used both as
floor and wall mat and the design and colour of it has
undergone some significant improvement. Satranji-making
in our country first initiated in Nisbetganj village
of Rangpur district during British period. At the initiatives
and support from the then District Magistrate Lord Nisbet
Satranji making stated and expanded in a village that
named after him as 'Nisbetganj'. Majority of the technicians
and workers migrated to India after partition of India
in 1947. The cottage industry faces another crisis after
independence of Bangladesh when many of them did not
return Bangladesh from India. Those who retuned chosen
other alternative occupations. However, BSCIC started
to rehabilitate this cottage industry through training,
credit and marketing assistance. The industry has now
regained its previous reputation and market demand is
also high. Of the total labour force engaged in Satranji
-making, 95% are women (total 400 households). Each
women works for more than 8-10 hours and earn a weekly
wage of Tk. 300.00. As it is a seasonal industry (October-February),
the study expected identify the processes (i) how to
improve the income level of the women; (ii) how the
women craftswomen can contribute more in increasing
the productivity of the industry; and (iii) improving
the socio-economic conditions of the women involved.
Specific objectives of the project are : (i) marketing
expansion; (ii) Rationalising production and other costs
so that medium and lower-medium households can use it
as an essential family item; (iii) recording the history
of Satranji industry since medieval period which include
people involve, evolution of design, colour, motifs
etc.; (iv) revival of past designs and (v) marketing
of Satranji based on old and currently popular designs.
Participatory action research methodology will be adopted
in conducting the study. This is a pre-research cum
capacity building project.
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