Poverty pangs

Jamshedpur, Aug. 25: Non-toxic colours maybe good for the environment, but it is threatening to deepen the poverty pangs of artisans who will use them for idols this Puja.

Earlier this month, the Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Samiti (JKDPS) held a meeting with artisans and advised them to use environment-friendly colours.

But idol-makers contend that the green colours come for a price and using them would automatically increase the cost of production.

Buyers may not be willing to shell out extra money and in such a case, artisans will suffer losses, they said.

“We are poor people. We barely make a profit of Rs 100-150 per idol. Using non-toxic colours will raise the price of idols and, if puja committees are unwilling to buy at that rate, our profit margin will reduce further. Moreover, we have already started preparations for Vishwakarma and Ganesh pujas and, now, it is too late to use green colours,” said Anil Paul, an artisan from Bhuiyandih.

Of the 25 artisans, who participated in the August 12 meeting organised by JKDPS, most share Paul’s views. They are unwilling to use colours that may take a toll on their livelihood. However, the secretary of the samiti Ram Babu Singh sounded upbeat. “We have found out that there will be a minimum hike of 1.25 per cent in the price of the simplest of idols. And during Durga Puja, idols that originally cost Rs 10,000 will cost Rs 15,000. This will lead to a raise in donations,” he said.

But artisans seemed little convinced. They said use of non-toxic colours also depended on the weather. “If the sky is cloudy, we will have to use oil paint, which dries faster,” one of them said.

For the past few years, getting clay for the idols has also become a problem. Earlier, artisans brought clay from the Domuhani area of Sonari. That option is no longer viable since residential complexes have mushroomed in the area. Nowadays, idol-makers have to go to far-flung areas such as Tamulia, Asanboni and Huldung to get clay. This has increased their miscellaneous expenses, including cost of transportation.

“We cannot buy anything and everything. The clay for idols has to be clean. It is not easily available these days. So, the cost of production is already high and now we are being told to use expensive non-toxic colours. We will make no profit if we follow such guidelines,” said Subroto Paul, an artisan from Kasidih.