Balasore: Bamboo craft, which once used to be a major livelihood provider for a large number of people in this district, no longer interests artisans.
The trend has been attributed primarily to two factors- lack of government patronage and rising cost of raw material.
Besides, though many welfare measures are being implemented for rural artisans, bamboo craftsmen have been deprived of them, it was learnt. Over the years, the number of people depending on this age-old craft for their livelihood has declined with many switching over to other occupations.
Several government agencies and NGOs have been tasked with providing support and making rural artisans aware of the schemes available for them. But the agencies lack concern for artisans in discharging their responsibilities, according to a report.
Moreover, entry of plastic, steel and aluminum utensils into the market has also adversely impacted the traditional craft, some artisans said. At some places, bamboo craftsmen are leading miserable lives.
The craftsmen say there was a time when they used to churn out flower baskets, paddy/rice winnowers, sieves and several other usable items from bamboo. At locals markets, they would earn enough from selling these bamboo ware. Besides, festivals and fairs would prove good marketing avenues for the craftsmen. But these days, the only major orders they receive are from betel farmers of Bhograi and Baliapal.
According to a survey, the volume of betel business in Bhograi is worth around Rs 4 crore a week. Packed in baskets, betel traders send betel leaves to Mumbai, Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi and other parts of north India.
Making of customised betel packing baskets has remained confined to areas like Kusuda, Sultanpur, Jayrampur, Jaleswarpur, Sribastabpur, Nampo and Sunadharbasan.
The shortage of bamboo and its ever increasing cost have been a matter of concern for those artisans who still stick to this occupation.
“In the face of fund and raw material shortage how are we supposed to sustain our livelihood,” asked artisans Damodar Marendi, Phulamani Marendi and Sombari Marendi.
Some artisans said the price they get for their products is not commensurate with the labour and input cost they invest.
“If the government doesn’t come to the rescue of the artisans, the traditional craft will soon face extinction,” they added. PNN
