Economics of Conch Shell Industry – A Study in West Bengal

West Bengal is well known all over the world for its expertise in arts and craft. Its artisans have skill in architectural splendors to its excellent works on crafts of conch shell. Not only are conch shell crafts beautiful and delicate, they are also considered to be extremely auspicious, as per Hindu mythology. The beauty and uniqueness of these crafts is very difficult to be described in words. Conch shell is used as an ornament, as a trumpet, as a musical instrument, a wind instrument that is made from a seashell. Shankhis a finished product of conch shell. This research paper is based on primary survey of 240 households conducted on conch shell units in the four districts of West Bengal namely North 24-Paraganas, PurbaMedinipur, PaschimMedinipur and Bankura. The paper tries to estimate the cost and profit of the sample the sample conchshell units. The study finds that conch shell industry still plays an important role in generating livelihood through creation of income.