Preface to the 2012 edition
Preface to the 1982 edition
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction 1
2 The Setting – West Godavari
Population Characteristics and Work Participation
Poverty and Pauperisation in a Rich District
Women’s Work Participation in West Godavari
Unemployment
3 The History of the Lace Industry
Colonial Penetration
The Development of the Lace Industry, 1900-70
The Rise of the Farmer Merchants in the Lace Business
4 The Lace Industry in 1978
5 Structure of the Industry
A ‘Submerged Economy’ and Invisible Producers
Means of Production and the Production Process
Division of Work and the Putting-Out System
Wages and Wage Systems
Marketing and Marketing Agents
6 Production and Reproduction Relations
The Setting and Methodology
Case Histories of Lace Producers, Agents, Traders, Exporters
(a) Female Producers: The Lace Makers
(b) Male Non-Producers: Agents, Traders and Exporters
Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Lace Makers
(a) Marital Status
(b) Class
(c) Caste
(d) Education
Production Relations
(1) Lace Workers/Exporters
(2) Lace Workers/Agents
(3) Lace Workers/Traders
(4) Agents/Exporters
Reproduction Relations
Division of Labour Between the Sexes
(1) Sexual Division of Labour within Society
(2) Sexual Division of Labour within the Family
(3) Lace Production and Changes in the Sexual Division of Labour
Women’s Work and Labour Time
(a) The Working Day of a Lace Maker
(b) Types of Work
(c) Labour Time
Income and Expenditure
(1) Income
(2) Expenditure
Indebtedness and Pauperisation
7 Profits and Exploitation
8 Problems of Organisation
The Lace Workers’ Consciousness
The Possibility of Forming a Society
The Role of the Bureacracy
Our Role
9 Conclusions
Suggestions
Bibliography
Appendix: Adilaksmi’s Working Day
Tables
1 Agricultural Machinery and Implements
2 Size of Landholding
3 Distribution of Holdings and Area Operated in West Godavari, by Size of Holding
4 Distribution of Make and Female Workers in Agriculture, 1961-1971
5 The Employment Exchange: Applications and Placements
6 Employment in the Formal Sector, Elluru
7a Exports and Local Business Negotiated through State Bank of India, Narsapur (rupees)
7b Exports and Local Business Negotiated through State Bank of India, Narsapur (graphs)
8 Marital Status of Lace Makers
9 Main Occupation of Head of Household
10 Land Owned or Leased-in by Lace Makers’ Families
11 Land Ownership: Present and Past Situation
12 Distribution of Lace Workers by Education and Caste (%)
13a Average Annual Earnings According to Sources of Income
13b Average Retail Prices of Essential Commodities at Elluru, 1975-77
13c Average Wholesale Prices of Paddy at Bhimavaram, April 1976 to March 1977
14 Family Expenditure on Various Requirements (%)
15 Recreation Expenditure According to Sex
16 Health Expenditure According to Sex
17 Amounts Borrowed
18 Reasons for Taking Loans
19 Articles Pawned, Land Mortgaged and Lost by Lace Makers’ Families
Maria Mies speaks with Helen Lobato about 'The Lace Makers of Narsapur'
