Kamakhyanagar: The idol makers of Dhenkanal district who create lively statues of various Hindu deities have found it tough to survive these days as they consider their remuneration not commensurate with their labour.
Earlier, the community of traditional potters used to make earthen idols, whereas scores of educated youths are into the making of idols nowadays. However, as the artisans do not get due remuneration against the physical labour they put in, their livelihood is passing through a difficult phase, reports said.
When the festive season arrives people usually look for good idol makers who earn square meals for their family. However, apart from the artisans of stone, bronze and fibre materials, earthen idol makers do not get adequate works round the year.
In festive occasions like Janmastami, Khudurukuni, Ganesh Puja, Biswakarma Puja, Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kartikeswar Puja and Saraswati Puja they get handful of works.
According to sources, they are unable to leave their traditional occupation and switch over to other occupations, for want of money. The state government does not have statistics on the population of idol making community, lamented an artisan.
Imtiaz Khan, an idol maker of Kamakhyanagar, a graduate in fine arts from the Govt College of Art and Crafts, Khallikote, said, “After graduating from the college I was into idol making at Delhi and came back home due to family problems. However, it is too difficult to make a decent earning here with this occupation”.
Ashish Pradhan, an artisan of Barihapur, says, “I learnt the skills of idol-making at Kolkata and Puri and I run a workshop in my village. I have had the opportunity of working outside Odisha and the remuneration here is meager.”
The community members have demanded patronage from the government, special status and artisan allowance among others. If adequate infrastructure for training and subsidy for materials are provided, then “these sons of the soil would continue to survive,” they rued.
PNN