Women Workers in the Jute Industry of Bengal : 1914-1947

Abstract

In 1855 first spinning machine was brought from Dundee to Calcutta and a jute mill was set up at Rishra by one Gorge Auckland. Then within fifty to sixty years, the industry had grown so rapidly that Bengal soon became the major jute producing and manufacturing zone of the world by replacing Dundee at Scotland. Interestingly enough Jute industry did not yield any favourable result either to the Indian jute cultivators or to the mill workers. Whenever crisis arose in the international market mill management reduced working hours and took the policy of severe retrenchment. Female workers who belonged to the unskilled section of the total working force were the worst affected faction. The mill management had no intention to provide any economic protection, insurance or proper medical benefits to the female workers in jute factories. Even the male co-workers and the trade unions were indifferent to the issues related to maternity benefit, wage, working hours and medical insurance of the female workers. The female labour force faced dual exploitation as a gender faction within the hierarchical social structure.