The handicraft industry in Odisha is in dire straits due to shortage of raw materials along with poor marketing avenues and low investment opportunities. So, thousands of artisans working in the sector are sitting with their fingers crossed.
The artisans who create art on stone, wood and bamboo, most of them are bound to leave the State in search of job for their families as migrant labourers.
While there is much scope of producing `2,500 crore-handicraft products per year in the State, only `100 crore-handicraft products are being produced.
Especially the artisans who are making the handicraft products in stone, wood, brass, and other metals, are leaving their occupations due to lack of raw materials.
There are around two lakh artisans, who can provide income to lakhs of people along with producing quality handicraft products if they will be provided raw materials, investment and market, sources said.
Despite drawing the attention of the State Government in this regard, the administrative machinery that is focusing more on the large scale industries is not paying attention to their issues, alleged an artisan federation.
There are more than 25,000 stone artisans in the districts of Khurda, Puri, Jajpur, Cuttack, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Kalahandi and Kendrapada.
As the rocks like ‘muguni’, ‘khadi’, ‘shana’ and ‘kanda’ are not available in sufficient manner, the artisans are using the materials that are used as bolder and chips in road construction work for their work.
The police and officials of forest, mining and revenue departments are taking action against them as if they allegedly collect illegal stones for making idols. Therefore, many artisans have left their occupation after not getting work for years, said the federation members. The artisans have been demanding stones at low prices by opening the depots as per the requirement and identifying the artisans in the areas where the number of craft workers is more. The association also demands the Government to provide long-term lease to the cooperative societies like Utkalika for stone query.
Similarly, the artisans cannot continue their occupation due to insufficient availability of wood, bamboo and cane. The artisans are demanding to identify the wood and bamboo artisans in the areas where the majority of artisans are living and provide them the materials at cheap prices.
The federation members also demand for plantation of more trees such as - Gambhari, Teak, Neem, Sal, Indian Rosewood, Indian Kino, Bamboo and Cane - and make afforestation for availability of the raw materials.
There are more than 30,000 brass and bell metal artisans in Odisha. At times, they face police action, while collecting the brass and bell utensils. Similarly, the silver, chandua, pattachitra, horn craft, lakh and terracotta craft industries have been hugely affected in the State.
Currently, the State is exporting only `20-25 lakh handicraft products to foreign countries. The volume can be increased if the handicraft industry will be geared up for a systematised operation, feel the members of the federation.