Marginalized & vulnerable groups of artisans left to fend for themselves due to lack of development strategy by district administration
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada,June 23:Rayagada has scores of artisans and craftpersons, who are toiling hard to meet their both ends meet. Their condition has still deteriorated due to the onslaught of Covid-19 for over one & half years. Traditional bamboo artisans are not able to arrange even two square meals for them due to closure of daily markets and weekly haats. Same is the condition of traditional potters. In the absence of tourism in the district and exhibitions outside the district, sale of Dhokra crafts has been abysmally low.
The name ‘Dhokra’ was used originally to indicate a sect of metal craftsmen who well were known for their metal craft. Dhokra now refers to a metal craft which is tribal in origin. Dhokra craft mainly produces figurines of Gods, Goddesses and religious animals, birds and traditional jewellery. Dhokra craft has a rustic and antique finish which makes this unique and appealing. Though the Dhokra artisans are untutored in traditional institutions the Dhokra craftsmen posses huge repertoire of creativity and artistic sagacity. Dhokra art is revered all over the world for its primeval plainness and enthralling folk motifs.
Jhigidi and Gatiguda villages of Bissam Cuttack and Muniguda Blocks of Rayagada District inhabit Dhokra crafts-persons of the district. In Gatiguda and Jhigidi villages of Rayagada District, 60 households with a total of 144 artisans are found to be engaged in the Dhokra craft. 78% of the Dhokra artisans are concentrated in Jhigidi where as in Gatiguda it is 22%. This is quite interesting to find that in Gatiguda almost all the artisans are doing jewellery/ornaments whereas in Jhigidi the artisans are doing more figurines of tribal male & female, Gods, Goddesses, animals and birds and decorative items other than jewellery/ornaments. 100% of the households are doing Dhokra craft. To pursue survival need, some men migrate to Kerala; but due to Corona, they have also come back. As skilled persons, they do not think themselves fit to work as labourers under MGNREGA. Most of the population(40%) are illiterate. 38% know how to put signature despite no formal education. There is no single graduate in these villages till now. One is intermediate. So, no job prospects as far as qualification criteria is taken into account.
It is a matter of concern that not a single household in both the villages have access to piped water supply and cooking gas in spite of govt’s sheer boasting to provide these basic amenities. Considering electricity as an essential service, only 60% households have access to it. 52% households have got their respective toilets with the support of Govt. sponsored schemes. Not a single household has access to radio, Rickshaw, Tractor, Smart Phone, Whats-up, Computer, Internet, etc. 92% of the households do not have agricultural land. Only 8% of the households have agricultural land. Out of this 5% have less than 1 acre land and 3% have more than 1 acre land. So, there is no safety-net to fall back upon. Food security is in horrendous situation. Not a single household is able to have food crops for the whole year. 2% of the households are able to get food crops from agriculture for one to two months and four to six months. Only 11% of the families have availed bank loan.
There is no designated workplace with electricity and sitting arrangement for the artisans. Till now the pricing of the products have not been done scientifically. The artisans are not getting fair price and regular work. Most of the artisans are producing in anticipation of market. There is no assured and constant market of the products. Since most of the artisans are not getting entitlement cards like Artisan Card, are being deprived of getting benefits from Govt. schemes. Since artisans are defaulter to Bank, are not able to get financial services from Bank at competitive interest rate and subsidies. Various awards/certificates are conferred to the artisans to recognize their craftsmanship and contribution to the development of the Dhokra craft. These recognitions are aimed to encourage the artisans to continue with the craft in a more enthusiastic and productive manner and also motivate others to emulate them. Accordingly, both Central and State Governments have introduced a number of awards/certificates like Shilp Guru, National Award, State Award, National Merit Certificate, State Merit Certificate, etc. Surprisingly, it is found that out of the total 144 artisan households in the villages, all 100% were found to be completely ignorant about such awards.
Low & irregular income of the artisans’ are the major constraints. Most of the artisans are not able to avail various Govt. sponsored schemes for lack of awareness. Even if they received training with the support of TDCC, after training follow-up is almost negligible. Showcasing of their product, documentation of their work, using of improved technology in reducing the cost of production and diversification of products are some of the areas which need more attention.
Similarly, shawls known as “Kapda Gunda” produced by Dangaria Kandhas, a Primarily Vulnerable Tribal Group(PVTG) inhabiting in Bissam Cuttack, Kalyan Singhpur & Munihuda blocks need to be diversified. Though the district official website boasts of diversified products like office folders, purse, vanity bags, hand bags, etc and informs to contact ITDA, Gunupur to avail these products, they are not available in real sense. The Tribal World, an outfit sale centre of tribal traditional products opened five years back is almost closed. GI tag process for “Kapda Gunda” initiated by district administration is still in cold storage.
“Forest department should procure bamboo bins and tiny baskets for plantation and seedling raising purpose. They and other departments like horticulture, agriculture, soil conservation, watershed, etc should also procure earthen pots to raise seedlings and distribute to locals with subsidised price. TDCC should procure all the Dhokra materials with a minimum support price to the producers. OPELIP needs to procure all the shawls and base materials from Dangaria Kandhas and put up a small garment factory in Rayagada for diversified products. Each of these artisan family should be paid a monthly incentive of Rs.5000 per month for next one year”, said Smt Pramila Swain, a senior women leader of the district.
Unfortunately, district administration has hardly paid any attention to the constraints faced by these economically impoverished artisans as individuals as well as communities as a whole. They are left to depend on their providence because of a lackadaisical attitude of district administration and lack of a well thought development strategy for intervention.
