Keonjhar: Earthen utensils and pitchers such as ‘surahi’ and other containers are still in high demand even in the tech-savvy 21st century.
However, there has been a drastic reduction in people taking up pottery as an occupation primarily due to the unavailability of quality soil and other materials; combined with the nonchalant attitude of the state government towards promoting the traditional occupation.
Such is the case of potters at Nelungu village in Keonjhar district. Some of them are bound to do other work as the government is not concern about them, they alleged.
Still there are some potters who are emotionally attached with their traditional occupation and are not doing away with it. Every Sunday they sell their products at the haat here.
Villagers from Haladharpur, Baxibarigaon, Karia, Tikarpada, Jamunalia, Gopalpur are Pandapada are continuing with their traditional occupation.
The second issue that is marring the occupation is return on investment. As making earthen utensils is no more a profitable business due to the rising price of soil and low returns, the potters are not keen to continue with the profession.
Debendar Rana, a potter, said they are taking loans from the banks to make earthen pots and if they did not get the right price, which they do not get often, they get burdened.
Another potter Gobind Sahoo said, “We don’t want our children to face the hardships that we have been facing. Even our children are asking us to leave the occupation considering the hardships, 70-year-old potter added.