Bhubaneswar, Dec. 16: Hundreds of weavers and craftsmen under the banner of Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha demonstrated against the state government's alleged apathy towards artisans at Lower PMG Square today.

The protesters demanded solutions to their problems because of unavailability of raw material and the absence of an organised market to sell their products.

"Quality raw material is not easily available anymore. We have to get it from the black market at a high price. Hence, a large number of sculptors are going to other states in search of work," said the secretary of Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha Priyaranjan Kar.

The association has more than 35,000 members. But Kar said there were about eight lakh artisans in the state who were self-employed.

The government has proposed a raw material bank of stones at Narangarh in Khurda. Another will be set up at Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar. Apart from raw material banks, tussar and palm leaf banks will be set up at Raghurajpur crafts village where good quality tussar silk will be manufactured and long-lasting palm leaves will be stored for artisans.

The demonstrators said that the government had promised the raw material bank a long time ago, but officials took no action in this regard. They demanded banks to create artworks using stones, bamboo, wood and tussar silk.

Weavers and craftsmen of the state have demonstrated many times for raw material banks. They had also set up kiosks where artisans displayed their handloom and handicraft products to get the government's attention.

The matter was resolved after government authorities met the artisans and assured them of necessary assistance.

"We have already asked the officials concerned to hasten the process of setting up of raw materials banks," said joint secretary of handloom and handicraft department Raja Parija.