Women artisans drive ₹1,000‑crore silver industry in Hupari, Maharashtra
Summary
- Hupari town in Maharashtra is home to a century‑old silver craft sector worth approximately ₹1,000 crore annually.
- Over 80% of the workforce in this sector are women artisans who handle design, casting, and finishing of silver jewellery.
- Despite contributing significantly to the local economy, women artisans receive lower wages and are largely absent from formal trade‑body leadership.
- Artisans have formed informal self‑help groups to negotiate better prices and secure raw material supplies.
- The industry faces challenges such as competition from cheap imports and lack of government‑supported skill‑upgradation schemes.
Key Facts
- · Total annual turnover of Hupari silver industry: ~₹1,000 crore.
- · Women constitute more than 80% of the artisan workforce.
- · Average earnings of women artisans are 30% lower than male counterparts.
- · The craft has been practiced in Hupari for over 100 years.
- · No formal representation of women in the Maharashtra Silver Jewellery Association.
Why it matters
The Hupari silver sector highlights the economic contribution of informal, women‑led artisan clusters to India's manufacturing base, underscoring the need for policy interventions to ensure gender‑equitable wages, formal recognition, and skill development, which can boost rural incomes and preserve cultural heritage.
#women empowerment#silver industry#Maharashtra#artisan sector#informal economy#heritage craft