Dhubri, July 31: The annual turnover of terracotta artisans in Dhubri's Asharikandi village is estimated at Rs 12 crore, a study has found.

The survey was conducted by the North East Craft And Rural Development Organisation (Necardo), an NGO, which has been actively making efforts for the past 25 years to promote terracotta and its trade along with tourism in Asharikandi.

The findings have prompted the NGO to demand that the government provide some key facilities to terracotta artisans as well as traders and tourists not only to promote the cluster of villages as a terracotta-trading centre, but also transform it into a tourist hotspot in lower Assam.

The cluster of villages comprises all four wards in Madaikhali village under Asharikandi gaon panchayat.

A source in Necardo said terracotta and pottery of Asharikandi are famous for their unique style. More than 200 families in the village depend on terracotta and pottery trade.

The source said when it was found that there was no recent primary data available on the flourishing economy revolving around terracotta and pottery, the NGO decided to conduct a survey on Terracotta, Tourism and Trade voluntarily in all the four wards in Madaikhali village under Asharikandi gaon panchayat.

The crafts village is now one of the largest clusters in India where trade in terracotta and pottery is prospering together. Three decades ago, the village was not so popular and only a few families were into terracotta and pottery industry as part-time jobs amid several challenges.

In 1982, Sarala Bala Devi, one of the woman artisans, bagged an award on terracotta craft from the President. At that time, the practice was confined to traditional kumbakhars (clay artisans) only, a Necardo source said.

Talking to this correspondent, the director of Necardo, Binoy Bhattacharjee, said since the village has already turned into a vibrant trading centre, basic infrastructure and amenities like a drainage system, water supply, community toilet, market complex, waiting shed, parking place, kilns for baking the craft items and pension schemes for the artisans and traders are required.

"Besides these, the government should come forward to open a rural bank with ATM facility, police station for safety and security of artisans, tourists and traders and install a fixed loudspeaker. We want the government to take immediate steps in this regard," Bhattacharjee said.