Like many other traditional crafts, wood craft is also dying a slow death. But a tribal couple of Mundasahi under Barimula panchayat in Kendrapara district has been struggling hard to keep it alive despite all odds.
As Gopinath Hansda’s (34) dexterous fingers carve a piece of wood, his gnarled face brightens up with satisfaction.
However, it does not last long. To his disappointment, he is one of the last in a long line of craftspersons trapped in a rapidly changing society where artisans are exploited by the middlemen and ignored by the authorities.
“I developed the art of wood crafts 10 years back when such products were in great demand,” said Gopinath. But lack of proper marketing took its toll on the craft. Middlemen mint money by purchasing the wooden items at a very cheap rate and sell those at a high cost. They pay Rs 20 for a pair of earrings and sell those at Rs 50 in the open market, said Gopinath.
The misery and the extent of exploitation of the craftsmen is evident when Gopinath says that he would never want his children to become wood craftspersons.
With a steep slump in their business, Gopinath and his wife Malati Hemrum are facing economic hardship. Malati said once they were earning enough to pursue their business but these days they can hardly survive on their paltry income.
They make decorative items such as the statues of Gods, Goddesses, animals, ornaments, pen stands besides a number of household articles.
Malati said now-a-days wood craft is becoming popular as city dwellers are taking a fancy for the wood products which are eco-friendly and biodegradable. It does not need a large investment as the main raw material, the wood of Chakhunda, Karanga and other trees are easily available in rural areas. “However, we need the help of the authorities. We earn around Rs 3000 per month which is not enough to fulfil our needs and also get raw materials,” she added.
Last year, the district administration and district industrial officials had assured to provide financial help and wood craft training to 20 members of two Self Help Groups.
But they did not keep their promise, said Gopinath.