West Bengal Local Organisations and Silk Weaving Debdas Banerjee The current trend towards a diminished role of the state in third world economic activities including rural development has stimulated a 'new' paradigm which reasserts new opportunities for local organisations and institutions. This is a case study of silk production, a highly labour-intensive activity predominantly dependent on family labour in West Bengal. It examines the forms of organisation, the labour force, and various market and non-market configurations that determine the trend of development with particular reference to the role of local organisations and the state.