Exploring the socio-economic landscape: A comprehensive analysis of coir sector workers in puri district of coastal Odisha

Abstract

The paper analyses the socio-economic status of coir sector workers. The Coir Industry is a significant traditional small business in India, employing some 700,000 individuals, primarily from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In the fiscal year 2019, the coir sector in the eastern Indian state, Odisha; employed more than 18,000 individuals. Over 700,000 individuals in the south Asian country were employed by the industry that year. Coir is a natural fibre derived from the outer husk of coconuts and is commonly utilized in floor mats, brushes, and mattresses. The Coir Industry has developed in regions with a high density of coconut farming and abundant coconut husks. Coconut is predominantly grown in states and union territories such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, and Pondicherry. The study focused on the socio-economic status of coir sector workers in and around the Sakhigopal area of Puri district, Odisha.