The Great King of Kamrupa “Bhagadutta” during the period of Mahabharata fought in Kurukhetra wearied with hand-woven dresses-“Subwarnakudai Vastra”.The ancient king of Assam Patronized the development of Muga culture exploited from the rare silk moth “Antheraea Assam” producing the Golden silk.This patronage led to advancement for it was obligatory on the part of every household to rear silkworm,reel the yarn weave the fabric. The tradition of rearing and weaving is still maintained and silk has remained the dress material for the average assamese maiden and regular costume for the village women.Age old, glamorous brocades like “Kinghap,”Gomseng”,”Karchip”,”Sisupat”of silk still adorn the aristocratic households. There are about 17,000 Silk looms presently working in Sualkuchi to produce different range of silk products like Mekhela Chaddar,Riha,(Assamese Women Apparels) Sarees-6 yards of splendour,Dhara(Khasi women apparel),Dara chaddar(Bride dress) ,Gamocha,Dress material in yards etc.Out of the total silk production of Sualkuchi 70% consists of Mekhela and Chaddar,20% silk saries and 10% miscellaneous fabric including Khasi dresses of Dhara Jemseng.The silk weaving of Sualkuchi gives direct and indirect employment to more than 25,000 people through out the year in silk weaving and allied activities.The current annual consumption of mulberry silk in Sualkuchi is nearly 2.00 lakh KG, Muga and other allied silk is nearly 98,000 KG against the total consumption of 4,38,870 K.G.Silk yarn in Assam which includes Eri silk also.Out of the total production of about 42,19,055 linear meters of silk fabrics in Assam ,Sualkuchi alone produces more than 31.00 lakhs linear mtrs. Of silk fabrics valuing Rs.9,000.00 lakhs approximately.
The silk weaving sector of Sualkuchi is largely dependent on supply of mulberry silk yarn either from Karnataka or from China.The sector is facing emerging situation on production and supply of raw and facing discomforte to play and compete with the less price quality foreign silk in past liberalization Trade Era.
There are more than 12000 women weavers working in silk weaving sector Sualkuchi and generating monthly average income from Rs. 2500/ to Rs. 4,000/ through handloom weaving.The village is having educational facilities for women from Primary to College level,Health Care facilities with Dispensaries and Hospital,Drinking Water,Police Station.The women weavers migrated in the village from the other area,however,may be in need of awareness about right and responsibilities of women,education of health hygine,day to day mother and child health care,legel education on right of women apart from the benefit of Contributory Fund,Pension etc. to obtain full security measures when come out from the profession of hand weaving due to health reason and old age.
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