Brass craftspersons stare at a bleak future

Kendrapada: Around 1,500 brass craftspersons of Jajpur district, which is a Covid-19 hotspot, are staring at a bleak future with no takers for their wares.
“Around 45 families of our village earn their livelihood by making brass items. But sales became zero with the lockdown. We were not even included in the economic package announced by the Centre and state government,” said Biswanath Behera, an artisan of the village in Rasulpur block.
Businessman and people visit these villages to buy brass items but the lockdown has forced them to postpone their visit. “Artisans have also stopped working with no takers. Workers are reluctant to come to work,” said Brunadaban Sahoo of Kundapatana.
This craft has passed on through generations in Atalapur, Samantarapur, Laxminagar, Kundapatana, Balipatana, Kulugaon and other villages in Rasulpur block. The trade was already hit with the advent of stainless steel, aluminium and plastic utensils.
“I learnt the art of making brass items from my father. In our village, around 120 families used to make brass items two decades back. But now only 40 families are doing so,” said Jagannath Sahoo of Atalpur.
He said earlier a craftsperson used to earn Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 a month but now they have to do other odd jobs to earn their livelihood.
They make flower vases, photo frames and ornamental buntings. With vastu shastra and feng shui becoming popular, people prefer to buy brass bells, laughing buddhas, turtles, frogs and dragons. “But Covid-19 has dealt a body blow to our hopes,” said Priya Ranjan Kar, secretary of Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha, while demanding a package for the craftspersons.