Indian Journal of Industrial Relations: Economics & Social Dev.

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Urban Informal Sector: The Work Culture of Silversmiths in Odisha


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1 Biju Patnaik State Police Academy, Bhubaneshwar 751019
     

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This paper distinguishes the traditional segment of urban informal sector from its non-traditional counterparts analytically as well as empirically. Drawing example from a traditional occupation of silversmithy in Cuttack city in Odisha in Eastern India it looks at the socio-structural characteristics of silversmithy in the urban informal sector. It delves into the exploitative relations of production and analyses work culture, occupational dynamics and human relations at work. The study shows that lack of adequate resources, working capital, raw materials, and space for storage and display of finished products and market network make the artisans depend on the middlemen.
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  • Urban Informal Sector: The Work Culture of Silversmiths in Odisha

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Authors

Rabindra K. Mohanty
Biju Patnaik State Police Academy, Bhubaneshwar 751019

Abstract


This paper distinguishes the traditional segment of urban informal sector from its non-traditional counterparts analytically as well as empirically. Drawing example from a traditional occupation of silversmithy in Cuttack city in Odisha in Eastern India it looks at the socio-structural characteristics of silversmithy in the urban informal sector. It delves into the exploitative relations of production and analyses work culture, occupational dynamics and human relations at work. The study shows that lack of adequate resources, working capital, raw materials, and space for storage and display of finished products and market network make the artisans depend on the middlemen.

References