Orissa artisans need raw material bank

ExpressBuzz
Known for more than 40 handicraft items, Orissa boasts of a major presence in the sector even in global arena, but to boost artisans’ efforts there is not a single raw material bank in the region. Name the craft and Orissa’s artisans would have excelled in it. From applique and pathchwork, coir, tussar painting, pattachitra, palm-leaf engraving, stone and wood carving, sea shell, terracotta, filigree, lacqer, dhokra, brass and bell metal, golden grass, horn craft, cane and bamboo, paper machie, coconut shell, straw and paddy art to flexible fish (brass and wood) our products stand out among others.

Quality raw material provision through designated raw material banks will not only help artisans in getting their basic input materials at a right price, but also help them insulate from the middlemen and touts, said a top official of a handicrafts marketing organisation. Unlike industrial clusters, the artisan clusters are poor in linking among themselves, he said. "A coordinated effort among all stakeholders and especially between states in western and southern parts with states like Orissa could be extremely helpful and a mechanism like PDS can be developed in handicrafts sector also," he added.