Changing Occupational Structure and Transformation of the Kumar Community : A study of Bhagamur Village in Dibrugarh District of Assam, India

Abstract

Occupation refers to the activities of the members of a society to earn their livelihood. Occupation structure pinpoints socio-economic status of an individual and a particular community as well. Changing Occupational structure of a community immensely reflects structural change and transformation of the community. The present paper is an attempt to discuss the scenario of changing occupational pattern and transformation of the Kumar Community with special emphasis on factors of occupation change and their occupational aspirations. The study has been conducted in the Bhagamur village in Dibrugarh district of Assam. The village is exclusively inhabited by the Kumar population, which is traditionally known as potter community. Both primary and secondary data have been used in the present study. The respondents have been selected randomly by using sequential list method. The head of the sample families were the respondents in this study. The study revealed that the traditional pottery occupation has been gradually changing among the Kumar community. Their occupational aspirations has also been increased in the upward direction for their future generation. The educated as well as new generation are not interested to continue their traditional occupation, which influence in social change, development and transformation as well.