Jharpokharia: Several potter families residing in Saraskana block of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district are facing a livelihood crisis, as there has been a sharp decline in the demand for their traditional earthenware due to lack of marketing facilities, a report said.
Besides, the lack of government support to this traditional occupation has forced many
artisans to switch to other professions.
About 35 out of the 300 families living at Nuhamalia village under Saraskana block now find it difficult to earn enough from pot-making.
Many potters alleged that there is no provision for training to hone their skills.
“If we are trained by any agency or NGO on making marketable items, we can earn enough for our families,” they observed.
Earlier, rural households had all kinds of earthenware for daily and occasional use. But, over the years the demand for such products has witnessed a decline with rapid use of steel, aluminum and plastic products.
“We are gradually losing our livelihood and struggling to make both ends meet,” many potters lamented.
Potters Puntu Behera and Satyaban Behera pointed out another problem. “Wood and charcoal are essential to burn the pots. But due to restrictions on their availability, pot-making has become a costly affair. As a result, many potters have switched to other occupations like farming to keep their pots boiling,” they said. Many potters of the village are now engaged as daily-wagers.
Prasanna Behera, another potter, said pot-making is a cumbersome process requiring a lot of efforts and material.
“One has to go hunting for the right kind of soil and collect firewood or charcoal. The burning process takes almost 24 hours. But the price that we get from sale of the products is not commensurate with the labour that goes into making the products,” opined Belal Sen Behera.
Potters of the village suggested that the government should arrange workshops for them so as to train them on making decorative items which are high in demand. PNN
