The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Ojha families living in utter poverty

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Saturday, Nov 15, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ojha families living in utter poverty

S. Harpal Singh

The craftsmen community is in dire need of support

Alcoholism is one of the major factors driving the craftsmen community to poverty
Ojhas, though not included in ST list, are culturally close to the Gonds of Adilabad

ADILABAD: The brass metal caster Ojha community of Adilabad district needs another effort towards resuscitation, given the pathetic condition of these artisan families. There are about 50 Ojha families living in utter poverty in Ushegaon and Jamgaon of Jainoor mandal and Keslapur of Indervelli mandal. Alcoholism is one of the major factors driving this craftsmen community towards the morass. The social evil that has already eroded their self-confidence now threatens distancing them from even the local market, leave alone the national and international ones.

The Ojhas, who had participated in the just concluded Sahyadri Kala Utsav at Kala Ashram, Adilabad, are traditional makers of brassware who have gradually lost their trademark skills. Though they are not included in the Scheduled Tribes list, they are culturally very close to the Gonds of Adilabad. Originally, the families had been scattered at the rate of one family in one Gond gudem that was the market of the concerned family. Later, they were settled in three villages following formation of a ‘society’ of their own. Over the last 25 years, efforts directed towards the upliftment of these craftsmen families have gone begging.

The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor, the Adilabad District Rural Development Agency and some NGOs had sponsored training and marketing of their products during this period. The craftsmen were given training in design development. Initially, the results were excellent, as at one stage, the Ojhas were self-marketing their products in places like New Delhi. Samba, one of the craftsmen, had even visited Italy to participate in a handicraft exhibition in the 1990s.

Fall in production

The production of brassware has, however, decreased considerably over the period. The meagre number of brass items made by them are being marketed by a few NGOs, but they are not sufficient even for a hand-to-mouth existence. Any new effort has to incorporate a drive towards causing awareness about social evils and boosting self-confidence among the poor families.

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