The flourishing settlement of art at Nabarangpur seems to have come to a halt with declining interest in the field. This is due to less money, filling the cup of woes of artisans to the brim.
In a quandary, once famed craftsmen are leaving the profession for other avocations. Members of ‘Tanti’ (weaver) community with a few hundred population are struggling hard to keep the ancient art of weaving alive.
Spread over villages of Sanmasigam, Bhatigam, Mundaguda, Moedigam, Korchamal, Kusumguda, Dengapadar, Chatahandi, Dongiriguda and Saranpur under Nabarangpur block, weavers who are in minority here, have been undertaking handloom work for livelihood since time immemorial. They are now switching to other professions. Besides weaving attractive designs on bedsheets, carpets and saris, members of Tanti community have expertise in weaving Tassar saris. However, with the market flooded with far cheaper products than the handloom ones, patronage for these products has dipped.
With the purpose to unite efforts and to maximise profit, ‘Jananimata Weavers Co-operative Society’ was formed in 1985.
Charging the former secretaries for its failure, a founding member of the co-operative society Madhu Tanti said, “instead of working for the interest of the poor, they misappropriated funds that brought a terrible blow not only to the co-operative society but also to the future of weavers.” Since then, the society has not been revived.
Weavers have migrated to Chhattisgarh for livelihood while many of those who stayed back deserted the profession.
It’s a glaring example of government’s apathy that weavers who are still in the profession in the district, largely depend upon businessmen of Chhattisgarh for raw material.
Weavers buy cloth at the rate of Rs 20 to Rs 50 a metre and after handloom work as per indent, it is transported back to Jagadalpur of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh. Turning a deaf ear to the plight of weavers, no government agency has come forward to help them.
Criticising the authorities, Madhu said, local leaders and officials have so far paid nothing more than lip sympathy and even the attempts to revive cooperative society have not been successful.
Enduring wretched life, a handful of weavers are still continuing with the profession and now it’s government’s turn to support the dying heritage of State for the future.