Nabanita Bharadwaj and Indrani Sarma
Abstract
Handloom weaving is widely recognized as an environmentally sustainable and culturally significant livelihood in rural India. However, the gendered dimensions through which sustainability in the handloom sector is produced and sustained remain insufficiently examined. This paper analyzes the intricate relationship between womenâs work, environmental sustainability, and livelihoods within the informal handloom economy of rural Assam. Drawing on a qualitative review, the study adopts a sociological perspective to examine how sustainability narratives intersect with womenâs labour and livelihood conditions. The analysis highlights persistent challenges faced by women weavers, including low and irregular incomes, limited access to social protection, market vulnerabilities and policy gaps that undermine livelihood security. Last but not least, the study emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive policy interventions that recognize women weavers as key economic actors and address both environmental sustainability and social justice within the handloom sector.