Berhampur: Even as synthetic (polypropylene) carry bags are fast replacing polythene bags in this city after the administration imposed a ban on the latter, over 200 families who earn a living by making synthetic bags are still fighting for survival, a report said.
The strict enforcement of Berhampur Municipal Corporation’s ban on use of polythene can be gauged from the fact that shopkeepers are asking customers to either bring their own bags for delivery of goods or purchase synthetic bags for the purpose.
But the change in use of packaging material has not made much difference to the fate of synthetic bag makers.
Over 200 families residing in Panigrahi Penthasahi, Sriramnagar and Bada Bazaar have been in the business of stitching synthetic carry bags over the last 25 years.
Earlier they used to collect synthetic sacks of cement for preparing bags. However, with change in time they are now procuring tarpaulins from Balasore and Bada Bazaar to make carry bags.
They work all day stitching bags but their earning is not commensurate with the labour they put in, some bag makers said.
Two women of each family spend over a day to prepare seven dozens of carry bags of various sizes which are then taken to markets for sale by the male members.
The bags sell for `24 per dozen but they spend nearly `12 for procuring raw material, they said, adding each family earns a meagre `150 for their day’s labour.
They alleged they still live in rental accommodations as they are yet to get housing units under the Rajiv Awas Yojana despite registering their names for the scheme.
The only support the families get from the government is the provisions made available to them under the National Food Security Act.
Manu Sahu said he has been earning a living from stitching carry bags for 25 years but now finding it difficult to manage his family with the meagre earnings.
Runu Mohanty, a woman bag maker, said, “Rs 100 is what I earn at the end of the day despite working so hard.”
However, some bag makers are optimistic as orders are pouring in after the ban on polythene.
Santosh Panigrahi said earlier he used to push his products at Bada Bazaar for sale but now he is receiving more orders after the ban on polythene was enforced. He expects demand for carry bags will increase in coming days, Panigrahi said.
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