Bhubaneswar, March 30: Sculptors in the state heaved a sigh of relief today after the government assured them to provide raw materials and the necessary assistance to solve the problems that the artists have been facing.

Members of the Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha met with the handloom and textiles department officials today. The members had been sitting on dharna since February 22 that was called off on March 16.

The sculptors complained about lack of raw materials. "Quality stones are not easily available anymore. We have to get it in black market at a high price that we cannot afford. Hence, a large number of sculptors are migrating to other states, where they could get work. This is hampering the stone carving heritage of our state," said the mahasangha secretary Priyaranjan Kar.

The artists also demanded a survey and the provision of pension. "None of the old artists receive pension because there is no statistical data regarding the actual number of artists in the state. We have asked the government to form a committee in every district for a proper survey. We have also requested for a booklet that would have the artists' names, contact numbers and fields of expertise so that buyers can interact with them directly," said Kar.

The members also demanded the distribution of the State Hastashilpa Awards at the earliest. "The last announcement for the awards was made in 2012. It has not been conferred yet. We have asked the government to declare the awards for 2013 and 2014 so that the artists get financial assistance as well as encouragement for their work," the Mahasangha president Bhaskar Maharana said.

"We will soon chalk out schemes to solve their problems," said state handloom and textiles department joint secretary Raja Parija.