Rural Unorganised Manufacturing Sector in Assam in the Post-reforms Period

By : Dilip Saikia, Uddipana Gogoi

Page No: 226-235

Abstract
The objective of the present paper is to analyse the performance of the rural unorganised manufacturing sector in Assam in the postreforms period. Using the National Sample Survey Organisation’s (NSSO, 2008 report) ‘quinquennial’ rounds on unorganised manufacturing sector for the years 1994-95, 2000-01, 2005-06 and 2010-11, we have analysed the growth performance and structural changes in the rural unorganised manufacturing sector in Assam in terms of number of enterprises, employment and output. The analysis showed that in the post-reforms period there has been a deceleration in the growth of output in Assam’s rural unorganised manufacturing sector, while the growth of enterprises and employment has been negative. Considerable structural change has been occurring within the rural unorganised manufacturing sector over the years; the share of Own Account Manufacturing Enterprises (OAMEs)– the dominant segment of the rural sector – has been falling, while that of the establishments has been increasing. The establishments’ segment has been growing at a faster rate than the OAMEs. Employment elasticity in the overall rural unorganised sector and the OAMEs is negative, whereas that in the establishments’ segment has been relatively high. Labour productivity in the rural unorganised sector has been lower than the urban counterpart, however, growth in labour productivity is found to be higher in the rural unorganised sector than urban unorganised sector.

Authors :
Dilip Saikia : Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, Darrang College, Tezpur, Assam, India
Uddipana Gogoi : Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, Darrang College, Tezpur, Assam, India