Gopabandhunagar: With the earthen wares losing ground to steel and plastic wares, the potter community (Kumhar) has been facing financial difficulties.
Hundreds of such artisans in Gopabandhunagar block and its nearby areas in Mayurbhanj district are leading a distress life as their products are not being sold in the market.
Most of the artisans have already left their family business and opted for some other jobs. The few who have kept their family business alive find it difficult to make ends meet.
There are some families of this community residing in Nahara and Sanakhunta under Nahara block in this district. About 20 families have kept the tradition alive. They have formed the Laxmi Narayan Self Help Group.
They have been making a number of earthen home wares and decorative articles and sell them in nearby markets. However, they are struggling hard to be remain in the traditional business despite several obstacles.
Secretary of the SHG group Haradhan Behera and President Gurubha Behera shared some of the difficulties they have been facing.
They said they are not getting much firewood from nearby jungles because of the new restrictions imposed by the Forest Department.
They have to purchase them to burn the earthen wares. Another threat they have been facing is the scarcity of the kind of earth required for making pottery.
The cost of production has also increased because of such factors. The price of traditional products is comparatively higher than plastic and steel wares, forcing the consumer to go for cheaper options.
Sukanti Behera and Ghasini Behera said that the money they are getting from selling these products in weekly markets or at festivals are not adequate to sustain even for a month.
Moreover, most of the workers don’t have a pucca house. They are living in thatched houses with raining roofs and soaked walls.
“The government should provide us loans with subsidy and find a solution so that we can sustain our traditional business,” they said.