Sustainable Livelihoods In Indigenous Handloom Entrepreneurship: A Study Of Mising Community In Dhemaji District, Assam

The Indian handloom sector represented a vital intersection of economic sustenance and intangible cultural heritage, particularly within rural and indigenous contexts. This study examined the sustainability of handloom entrepreneurship among the Mising community in Dhemaji district, Assam, using an integrated framework incorporating social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The sector was found to be predominantly informal and constrained by structural challenges including limited market access, weak institutional support, technological stagnation, and recurring environmental disruptions. Although government initiatives such as the National Handloom Development Programme sought to strengthen the sector, their effectiveness at the grassroots level remained limited due to low awareness and administrative inefficiencies. The findings indicated that handloom activities contributed significantly to household income and livelihood diversification, especially in flood-prone areas. However, value-chain inefficiencies, intermediary exploitation, climate vulnerability, and gendered labor burdens restricted long-term sustainability. The study highlighted the need for coordinated interventions focused on market integration, skill enhancement, financial inclusion, and gender-sensitive infrastructure. It concluded that strengthening indigenous handloom enterprises could enhance economic resilience, preserve cultural identity, and promote inclusive rural development in Northeast India.