SERICUL TURE AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGE - Institute for ...

substantially been channelised in improving the life of the labour class
and of the weaker sections. As for the labour prospects, sericulture has
very limited scope. The attached labourers show least interest in
continuing in their present status but for their financial compulsions. On
the other hand, it is their economic condition again that acts as a major
constraint in taking up sericulture by themselves. As witnessed in the
field., there are some sericulturists, who try to motivate their own
contract labourers to take up sericulture independently. They also assist
them in creating necessary infrastructure facilities. Some such labourers
have taken up sericulture on leased land and do fairly well. These
labourers could become the right target for sericulture development,
provided they are relatively freed from their financial constraints.
The sericulture developers and implementing agencIes have to
look for alternatIVes and viable contingency plans and execute them
carefully with dedIcation. The target of the development agencies
whether government or non-government., must go beyond its production
orientations It IS heartening to note that the departments of sericulture in
recent years are taking efforts to generate such developmental strategies.
There have been instances of failures in the implementation of such
plans. This is mainly because of the poor formational and preparatory
base at the level of the weaker sectIOns and also due to lack of sustained
efforts, coupled with preconceived notions and prejudices. If only these
pitfalls are adequately taken care of, the sericulture enterprise would
really become one of the most successful strategies in the process of
rural development and change. Sericulture, as one of the important rural
enterprises, could also become an effective model for other similar rural
enterprises. The sustainability of such efforts agaIn depends on the
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