Padmapur: Jagdish Bhorasagar (62), a resident of Kudopali village in this block in Bargarh district, earns his livelihood from making and selling percussion instruments such as ‘Madala’, ‘Dhol’ and ‘Mrudanga’.
His son Ashok is also in the family business that is five-generation old. However, their business has lost its sheen once it used to have thanks to the cheaper percussion instruments that are flooding the market.
Jagdish’s is not a lone case, there are many who face hardship like him as their varied family businesses have been affected by cheap goods available in the market.
Almost all families of Kudopali village, who are known for their mastery over making of these instruments, face the same situation.
On auspicious events, people used to look for these instruments. But these instruments are no longer seen in family functions or other festivals. Their modern substitutes are proving a bane of their existence. Holding ground against the cheaper fiber instruments is becoming difficult for them. The craftsmen are making these percussions but are not getting any takers, forcing them to live miserable lives.
In making these instruments, both side open earthen drums and hides are required. The cobbler community of Padmapur and Sargibahal supplies hides while the potters of Balanda village under Bijepur block provide the drums. Hence, the dwindling business has affected the earnings of these two communities too.
According to Jagdish Bhorasagar, a Madala on an average takes 3 to 4 days to complete. While a Madala sells at Rs 1,500 a piece, the market price of a Mrudanga is anything between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1, 800. Maximum three to four such instruments are sold in a month during summer, he said, adding, that the rest of the time he has no choice but work as a daily labourer.
What has added to Jagdish’s woes is that despite belonging to a landless Scheduled Caste family, he has not been included in the BPL list nor has been covered under the Indira Awas Yojana.
These families are now waiting for the government’s assistance that may help improve their financial condition. PNN
