Non-formal Entrepreneurship by Women: A Case Study of

Toto Tribes of West Bengal

Dr. Sudipta Sarkar*, Nina Halder** & Arghya Sukul***

Submitted for:
37th National Seminar on Tribal Women in Transition
Organized by ISRAA, Bidisha,
Theme: Tribal women as entrepreneurs

Abstract:
The tribal population is an integral part of India’s social fabric. As per 2001 census
there population was 8.43 crore of which 4.26 crores are man and 4.17 crores are
women. They are scattered over all the states/UTs, except Punjab, Haryana, Delhi
and the UTs of Pondicherry and Chandigarh.
In tribal communities, unlike other social groups, the role and status of women is
substantial and crucial. Women in tribal societies are considered as economic
assets. Besides household activities, they involved in different types of formal and
non-formal economic and income generating activities and thereby contributing to
their family income. In most of the cases tribal women have adjusted themselves to
live a traditional life style in the local environment and follow occupations based on
natural resources.Toto tribes in Jalpaiguri district, a listed Primitive Tribal group of
West Bengal is not out of the situation.
The Toto population is mainly concentrated in the village called Totopara in
Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. At present there are only 1378 Toto people
consisting of 740 males and 638 females. Approximately 300 households are there.
Generally their families are nuclear in nature. Women enjoy less gender
discrimination and participate equally in socio-economic activities. Traditional
sources of income of Totos are agriculture and livestock rearing. Betel nut,
pineapple, corn, maize and ginger are usually cultivated in this area. Orange
cultivation also had been considered lucrative economic endeavor for Toto people.
However, since few years back due to deforestation top fertile soil has been washed
out resulting in loss of orange cultivation. In this situation most of the Toto males
have to go for work as a labourer in near by Bhutan and work at a stretch of one to
three months. Due to absence of male members of the family for such a long time
Toto women are forced to engage themselves in non-formal socio-economic
activities to meet their household needs.
Toto women are involved in different income generating activities like preparation
and sale of country liquor to the local toto and other tribal people, domestication and
sale of animals and birds like pig, goat and fowl etc. Besides, in cultivation season
they also work as farm labours in Totopara and nearby localities to earn their
livelihoods. Women self-help group has also been formed, which are involved in
institutionalising pig farming and other home based income generating activity.
Conventionally household responsibility depends on women; hence, it is very much
needed to study their adjustment pattern with non-formal entrepreneurship and
traditional gender role and responsibilities in relation to their socio-cultural and ethnic
indigenousness.
This study is based on a socio-economic and cultural description of the Toto people
and particularly their women folk followed by analyses of interviews with 30 Toto
women and 15 Toto men.

Key words: Toto tribe, Tribal Woman, Non-formal entrepreneurship, traditional gender role.

*Asst. Professor and Head, Deptt.of Commerce, Kalyani Mahavidyalaya,

sudiptasarkar235@rediffmail.com

** Asst. Teacher, Madarihat High School, Jalpaiguri & Reseach Scholar, Deptt. of Sociology,
University of Kalyani, ninahalder@yahoo.co.in

*** Reseach Scholar, Deptt. of Sociology, University of Kalyani, arghyasukul@gmail.com