Raisuan: The government has a number of schemes to push cottage industries in the state, but many artisans like Nishikant Behera of Mahadeijoda have been leading a miserable life without proper support from the government.
Administrative apathy and lack of financial support and marketing facility to talented artisans have deprived artisans of eking out their living.
The result is that terracotta, pottery and other traditional occupations are gradually vanishing in rural pockets.
Nishikanta Behera, 22, is a terracotta artisan in Tikarapada of Mahadeijoda panchayat. He is the youngest of four sons of Gourachandra Behera. His beautiful and well designed terracotta images are a proof of his excellent skills in this field.
He is such an amazing artisan that he can copy an image of anyone and turn it into reality in terracotta. Everyday, he churns out different terracotta items and sell them at fairs and melas.
“But the main problem is finance and lack of marketing facility for my products. I have received no support from the government. If artisans can be provided with marketing platforms, they can be able to earn enough to feed their families,” he observed.
“Our work involves a lot of labour, but the price that we get is too meagre. Sometimes, I am thinking of stopping the work and look for other livelihood sources,” he lamented.
Social activists Sanjay Sahu said, “Rural artisans are flowers in the wild. They wither away without their beauty being seen by others. There is a need for publicity and awareness about the government schemes meant for artisans. The departments concerned should take up sincere steps to provided financial support through banks to the artisans.”
PNN