96% OF THE TOTAL INCOME OF ARTISAN HOUSEHOLD IN KERALA AND ABOUT 90% IN RAJASTHAN COMES FROM RAJASTHAN

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BACKGROUNDER

The result of a study sponsored by the Deptt. Of Tourism to assess the socio-economic impact of tourism on folk artists and Artisans who earn livelihood in and around selected heritage sites in the States of Kerala and Rajasthan have shown that tourism contributes about 96% of the total income of artisan household in Kerala and 90% in Rajasthan.

15 heritage sites located in Kovalam, Allepey, Periyar-Idukki, Kottayam, Cochin, Trissur/Guruvayoor, Wayanad, Kasargod and Calicut in Kerala and 20 sites located in Jaipur and Sekhawat, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner in Rajasthan were selected for the study. The results of the study are based on primary survey of a sample of 600 artisan and 400 folk art households in each of the two States. The focal points of the analysis are to understand the extent of benefits the artisans and folk artists derive from tourism activities on the frontiers of income generation, employment generation and standard of living.

The study indicates that about 96% of the total income of artisan household in Kerala and about 90% in Rajasthan comes from the tourism only. Exposure to tourism activities enhances the scope of employment generation, particularly in the lower income segment of the artisan household. The study also indicates that tourism plays a vital role in enhancing the standard of living of the artisan families by enabling them to acquire quality housing and other necessities of life such as safe drinking water, electricity, toilet facilities within the home premises and ownership of relatively costly assets. As regards the folk artists, their average per-capita income during the peak tourist season is nearly 4 times that in lean season in both the states. In Kerala while the per-capita income in the peak season is Rs. 1549/-, in Rajasthan it is Rs. 1305. The average employment from Folk art activities during the peak season in Kerala is 8.8 while in Rajasthan it is 2.2. the average productivity measured in terms of income per employment, during peak season in Kerala is Rs. 1268/- whereas in Rajasthan it is Rs. 2291/-. The study reveals that more exposure to the tourists results in better standard of living for the folk Artists as it enables them to earn higher income and to lead better quality of life as viewed from possession of consumer durable which command high values and ownership of quality houses.

Survey findings for Artisans

The general profile of the artisan households covered in Kerala shows that more than 70% of them belong to the monthly income ranging from Rs. 3500/- to Rs. 7500/-. The educational levels of the artisans increase with increase in income level. However, in Rajasthan such households are evenly distributed across the income groups ranging from Rs. 2500/- to Rs. 12000/- per month. The educational level of the artisan increases with increase in income level.

The share of artisan income in the total income of the household is 96% in Kerala and 90% in Rajasthan.

Exposure to tourism activities enhances the scope of employment generation for the artisans and employment increases the income level of the households.

Share of female employment is the highest in the lower income segment of the artisan households.

The average income-expenditure ratio for the artisan households in Kerala is 1.15 and in Rajasthan it is 1.23.

The quality of housing and other necessities such as safe drinking water, access to electricity and toilet facilities within the home premises and ownership of relatively costly assets increases with increase in income and tourism plays a vital role in it.

There is no child labour in artisan work in Kerala, but in Rajasthan incidence of child labour particularly at the lower income level of the family have been noticed.

In Kerala tourism plays an important role in backward caste integration process through generation of income for households belonging to lower social strata of the society. In Rajasthan, though tourism plays an important role in various aspects of artisan’s life, it might not be able to play a crucial role in changing the economic status of the households belonging to the backward castes.

Survey findings for Folk Artists

Impact of tourism on the standard of living of the folk artists have been evaluated on the basis of analysis of socio-economic parameters affecting the quality of life. For this purpose, data set pertaining to income, expenditure, ownership of consumer durable, levels of education, adequacy of safe drinking water provision, electricity facility and toilet facility have been used. The entire data set was generated through survey of 400 folk art households spread across major tourist centres in the states of Kerala and Rajasthan.

Kerala

1. The share of income from folk art activities in the total income is 63%. Higher the level of exposure to tourists, higher the share of folk art income.
2. The per capita income during peak season and lean season is Rs. 1549/- and Rs. 387/- respectively. The per capita income during peak season is nearly four times that in the lean season. There is a vast difference in the standard of living of household members of the folk artists on account of tourism.
3. Average employment per household from folk artists activities during peak season associated with tourist activities and lean season is 8.8 and 5.0 respectively.
4. Average productivity in folk art activity during peak and lean season is Rs. 1268/- and Rs. 308/- respectively of the persons employed in the folk art activities.
5. Average monthly income, expenditure and income expenditure ratio is Rs. 4410/-, Rs. 3627/- and 1.22 respectively. The income expenditure ratio increases with the level of household income. The higher is the exposure to tourists, the better the standard of living as quantified by the levels of income.
6. Among the folk artists, 30% did not have formal education, 35% had primary education, 28% had studied upto secondary and higher secondary and 7% were graduates and above. Level of education was higher for households where the exposure to tourists is higher. This indicates that on account of higher income from tourism, the household could afford to have members with more qualification.
7. Both in the case of male and female children, the incidence of formal education is 100%.
8. Tourism has positive impact on the quality of life as viewed from possession of consumer durable which command high values and ownership of quality housing:

Percentage of households owning
B & W TV	6%
Colour TV	44%
Refrigerator	26%
Cooking Gas	27%
Bi-cycle	41%
Two wheeler	36%
Telephone	18%
Pucca houses	22%
Semi-pucca houses	64%
Kacha houses	14%

The backward class has also benefited from tourism. The income differential between Backward and General class is due to exogenous factors.

Rajasthan

1. The share of income from folk art activities in the total income is 83%. Higher the level of exposure to tourists, higher is the level of exposure to tourists, higher is the share of folk art income. This share is 78% for lowest income group and 85% for the highest income group.
2. Per capita income during peak season and lean season is Rs. 1305/- and Rs. 362 respectively. Per capita income in peak season is nearly 4 times that in lean season.
3. Average employment per household for folk art activity during peak season associated with tourist activity is 2.2 and in lean season 1.3.
4. Average productivity in folk art activities during peak and lean season is Rs. 2991/- and Rs. 1267/- respectively.
5. Average monthly income, expenditure and income expenditure ratio is Rs. 3663/-, Rs. 2884/- and 1.27 respectively. Income, expenditure ratio is 1.97 in lowest income group household and 1.40 in the highest income household.
6. Among the folk artists, 74% did not have formal education, 23% had primary education, 2% had studied upto secondary and higher secondary and 1% are graduate and above. The incidence of education among male and female children is 32% and 20% respectively.
7. Tourism has positive impact on the quality of life as measured in terms of consumer durable profile and possession of quality housing:

Percentage of households owning
B & W TV	15%
Colour TV	9%
Refrigerator	8%
Cooking Gas	15%
Bi-cycle	23%
Two wheeler	5%
Telephone	7%
Pucca houses	59%
Semi-pucca houses	14%
Kacha houses	27%

8. At the aggregate level, percentage of households having safe drinking water facilities, electricity and toilet within the premises is 78%, 58% and 29% respectively.