An industry whose labour force consists of family units or individuals working at home with their hands or their own simple equipment is called cottage industry. It may include many poducers working from their homes, typically part time.
Classification of Cottage Industry:
On the basis of raw-materials used, cottage industries are classified as:
1. Agriculture – based cottage industries: Handicraft, jaggery, raw – sugar, dye making, printing, carpet making, oil – mill etc.
2. Minerals – based cottage industries: Marble, gold, silver – ornaments making (gold smith), making of knives and seissors and making metallic wires.
3. Livestock – based cottage industries: Shoe – making, leather bag-making, bone – grinding, woolen cloth making, making ivory goods, etc.
4. Forest – products based cottage industries: Catechu, bidi, sealing – wax, wax, gum, paper, bamboo baskets, making wooden toys, etc.
Leading cottage industries in the state are:
1. Oil and Vegetable Ghee Industry: Due to plentiful production of oil seeds, the industry of oil and vanaspati ghee has developed in the districts of Jaipur, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Sriganganagar, Kota, Bundi and Ajmer. The Engine brand mustard oil of Bharatpur and Veer Balakmark oil of Jaipur have good name and fame in the country and abroad. The famous centres of vegetable ghee production are Jaipur, Niwai, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh.
2. Binding, Printing and Coloring Industry: With the help of wood – cut dyes, and using natural and chemical colours, the work of printing and colouring is mainly in the districts of Barmer, Balotra, Bagru, Sanganer, Akola, Sawai Madhopur, Nathdwara, Pali, Pipar and Udaipur. Ajrakh Print of Barmer and Printing of Chittorgarh is quite famous. The Bandhej work in Jodhpur and Lahanga Orhni work in Jaipur is done at large scale.
3. Khadi Industry: The khadi – based cottage industry is operating at large in the districts of Jaipur, Kota, Dausa, Bharatpur. Khadi Rural Industry Board is doing its best to promote the khadi industry in the state.
4. Animal – based Industry: Leather industry, woollen textile industry, dairy-product based industry, bone – powder industry are included under it. Woollen textile is the leading animal-based industry. Mills in which woollen thread is manufactured are situated in Bikaner, Churu, Ladnu, and Kota.
In woollen Khadi, Bardi (Jacket) of Jaisalmer, woollen blankets of Bikaner and khes (bed – sheets) of Chaumu are very famous. Mojri (country made shoes) and Jutiyan made of leather are manufactured in Nagaur, Sirohi, Bhinmal, Tonk, Jodhpur and Jaipur.
5. Forest products – based Industry: Under this industry, Bidi, Match – box, bamboo, catechu, gum, sealing wax, honey wax and paper are included. Bidi industry is being operated in Tonk, Bhilwara, Ajmer, and Beawar. Matchboxes are made in Ajmer and Alwar, Bamboo-based goods are made in Jaipur and Ajmer. Sealing wax is produced in Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, Udaipur, and Chittorgarh. Ghosunda and Sanganer are famous for paper industry.
6. Mineral – based Industry: More then 9000 units of mineral – based industry are registered in Rajasthan. Under this industry, manufacturing of marble tiles, manufacturing of clay items, manufacturing of cement – net, sanitaryware, etc are included. In Jaipur, Sirohi, Jaisalmer, Makrana, Kishangarh, Ajmer and Jaisamand, toys and statues are made of marble.
7. Handloom Industry: Handloom industry is very important in the state. Woollen shawls, Kota’s laces, sarees, khes (bedsheets), carpets, niwar are manufactured in several districts of Rajasthan. Besides this, artificial silk is also made in Kota, Udaipur, Banswara, etc. State government is also trying to promote the industry of artificial silk.
