Craft bazaars generate jobs in Orissa

What's in a bazaar? In south Orissa, it's proving to be more than just a platform to showcase handicrafts and handlooms, generating employment opportunities for the youth.

Recently, 150 award-winning artisans from various parts of the country took part in the 10-day all-India Craft Bazaar in Berhampur "" the first such exposition in the region "" organised by Sradha, a Bhubaneswar-based non-governmental organisation and sponsored by the Union Ministry of Textiles.

"It provided direct selling opportunities to craftpersons from remote areas," said Chandra Pradhan, a functionary of Sradha, adding that the bazaar helped in eliminating middlemen, thereby giving the craftpersons better profits.

For the past two decades, Sradha has been involved in developing skills of the artisans in the handicraft and handloom sectors in the state. The NGO also helps the artisans in marketing their products.

"Organising a craft bazaar is part of our efforts at sales promotion and help developing their (the craftpersons') economic conditions," said Pradhan, adding that the craft bazaars also encourage budding and unemployed artistes "to look for a career prospect in the sectors".

According to a conservative estimate, over 2 million people depend on the handicraft sector for their livelihood in the state. "Their earnings are meagre because the sector lacks infrastructure, funds and adequate raw materials, and faces competition from machine-made products," said an officer in the state government's textile department.

"Exhibitions like the one held here will help these artisans market their wares, know the pulse of business in urban areas and earn some extra money," he added.

The craft bazaars also provide an opportunity to south Orissa artistes to interact with artistes from other parts of the country. For example, at the 10-day exposition recently, artistes from Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Puducherry, besides Orissa, also participated.

"The 10-day event recorded sales of over Rs 23 lakh," said Pradhan, pointing out that jutework from West Bengal, sandalwood items from Mysore, carpet and appliques of Orissa, Kashmiri shawls and Mizo bamboo items were in demand.

For more, visit www.sradhaindia.org