Women Artisans Manage ₹1,000 Crore Silver Industry in Maharashtra's Hupari

Hupari, a town located in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district, has been known as the state's 'Silver Capital' for over a century. According to a report by The Hindu, the silver industry here generates an annual turnover of ₹1,000 crore, with women playing a pivotal role. As per the records of the Silver Manufacturers Association, women account for 60 to 70 per cent of the town's total 25,000 artisans. Approximately 4,000 silver business owners are members of this association.

Work is traditionally divided in Hupari's industry. Men generally handle heavy tasks such as melting silver in factories, rolling strips, and soldering large frames. However, the heart of the industry beats in the homes of women. In the narrow lanes and houses of the town, women perform the intricate work of crafting silver jewellery amidst their daily household responsibilities. These ornaments are not only sold in the local market but are exported across India and worldwide through national supply chains.

Hupari is India's leading production centre for seamless ghungroos (small tinkling beads), which are the hallmark of traditional anklets. Artisans shape and seal these hollow silver spheres by hand. Apart from ghungroos, various ornaments such as anklets, bindiyas (toe rings), and kamarbands are produced here. The production process begins with men melting the metal in factory crucibles, after which women use various techniques to complete the pieces. They employ the 'jali' (filigree) technique, bending fine silver wires to create complex geometric and nature-inspired patterns.

This industry is not merely an economic venture but also a saga of women's empowerment and financial independence. 76-year-old Kanchan Katkar is a living example of this industry. A month before Diwali, in a dark corner of her home, she uses iron pliers to join silver ghungroos with chain loops. Katkar says, "I have done this work for decades and will continue as long as I am capable."

Kanchan Katkar's life journey has been a struggle against social norms. In 1970, she was one of the few girls in Hupari who had completed school. When her two sisters got married, she decided to remain unmarried to care for her parents, who were active in India's freedom struggle. This decision caused a great shock to her family and village as it went against the social norms of the time. According to Katkar, "Why should the responsibility of caring for elderly parents belong only to the son? Why can't daughters do it?"

She stated that had she agreed to marry, her only condition would have been that her parents remain her priority. Eventually, her parents accepted her choice. Kanchan learned tailoring and later entered the silver industry. She believes that financial self-reliance is the first step for any woman to gain control over her life and resources, and Hupari's silver trade has provided that foundation for her and many other women. Today, she is neither a factory owner nor a trader, but has achieved financial independence by working from home.

According to a publication released by the Silver Manufacturers Association, the silver industry in Hupari began in 1904. In this town with a population of approximately 40,000, the home-based production model has been very successful, strengthening the local economy.