The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tribal craftsmen in State in dire straits

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Friday, Jun 22, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Tribal craftsmen in State in dire straits

Santosh Patnaik

ARAKU VALLEY (VISAKHAPATNAM DISTRICT): Vanjaria Ramchander, 50, sweats it out to earn two square meals a day for his family by making potteries of different kinds.

Except making pots, toys, decorative pieces, he does not know anything. Though several officials visit Madagadda, the tribal hamlet belonging to Kondakummaras – the traditional craftsmen, there has been no breakthrough in their lives so far.

“There are days when we get nothing to eat due to low returns from the sale proceeds,” he bemoans. Not only Ramchander, there are 20 families in this tiny hamlet, which eke out a living by making potteries. While men mould the clay into various shapes, women help them by washing and painting.

The tribal museum here procures their creations for showcasing them before the tourists.

Low returns

For a 2-foot-high elephant created by toiling for three to four days, they get Rs. 300 to Rs. 400. The cost of the item itself is Rs. 200. The return is not much compared to the hard work. The Integrated Tribal Development Agency conducted training for upgrading their skills on a part-time basis for six months. “We will be happy if we get bulk orders with the support of the ITDA and the officials. That will improve our margin of profit,” says Manjaria Gurubari, 20, wife of Sukra.

The Kondakummaras also get a chance to attend exhibitions at various places in the State and outside. Government agencies as well as NGOs like Primitive Tribal Group Welfare Association take them to exhibitions by paying them stipend.

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