'Low wages to rural artisans lead to migration'

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Namrata Kath Hazarika | 07 May, 2013
The number of rural artisans in India is declining due to low remuneration paid to crafts people for their work. This has resulted in migration of workers to urban areas in order to earn their livelihood, observed the experts.

"Remuneration to craftspeople is low as compared to other professions, which is leading to migration from this sector. There is a strong need to use an approach that knits together craft techniques, market forces, culture, environment and the aspirations of the craft workers to create regular work and increased income levels for the artisans," said Amita Arora Puri, All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA) to SME Times.

In accordance to the estimated official figures, there are seven million artisans engaged in crafts making. And, 200 million artisans (according to other sources) are engaged in craft production to earn a livelihood.

SME Times spoke to this NGO to find out why workers are shying away from the crafts making profession. In this context, Puri added that these workers are moving from such skilled based jobs to unskilled work day-by-day. "At the village and semi urban locations, they go for unskilled contractual labour opportunities. Some of them are occupied in agricultural activities during season time," she said.

"These artisans have limited access to credit, infrastructure facilities, or even information about market demands resulting in their marginalization their reduced capacities to access resources or meet specifications," she pointed out.

"In addition, insufficient investment is being made in building their skills and the disaggregated, small scale nature of the industry works against the artisans," Puri added.

"The global market for handicrafts is estimated to be USD 400 billion. India’s share in the market is less that 2% which in itself consists of mostly factory made craft-inspired products. If the challenges outlined above can be overcome, then there is an immense potential for growth. Countries like China are responding to global demand for Indian Handicrafts by factory producing Kohlapuri chappals, while India is not capitalizing on this to push handmade products," said Gayatri Divecha, Advisory Research Manager, Dasra--a strategic philanthropy foundation.

She said a consumer survey in Europe (WTO, 1999) revealed that 40% of consumers surveyed were willing to pay a premium of 10% for origin-guaranteed products. And, the sales of Indian crafts stand to increase from such efforts.

According to the United Nations, India has lost 30% of its artisans over the past 30 years, she said.

"This is mainly due to the fact that crafts are no longer a viable livelihood opportunity. Traditionally, artisan’s markets were local- artifacts made from wood, woven cloth, stoneware, etc was sold in the village market. However, with the advent of industrialization and price competition from mechanized production crafts were no longer able to capture local markets," Divecha also said.

Also, she pointed out on government policies and schemes that are providing guaranteed employment to these workers who were earlier employed in skilled based jobs like crafts making. "With increased urbanization and infrastructure growth spreading to rural India, many daily wage opportunities present themselves to artisans. This in addition to prospects of guaranteed income provided by the MNREGA create disincentives to craft production," she also mentioned.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) is a job guarantee scheme provided by the Indian government for providing at least one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household at the statutory minimum wage of Rs 100 per day. The minimum wages rate have increased in different states across India recently.

Another NGO, Craft Revival Trust, Founder, Ritu Sethi said, "We have had practitioners, experts and designers who have approached us to know more on the skills and product-making. They come with detailed inquiries on the technique and with an enthusiastic interest to work with these artisans. As artisans, they take this as a serious business; however policy makers need to change their mindset and take it more seriously. For instance, there is a lack of importance given to the handicraft census and the census is not conducted diligently."

"Otherwise generally, there is a gradual growth in the demand for bespoke handlooms, ethically made products and this displays a sign of hope certainly. This is what India has to offer to the world which sets us apart," she said.

She added that these artisans take up odd jobs or become cab drivers, cycle rickshaw pullers and other labor intensive jobs leading to de-skilling.

"There is an immense need to keep them engaged in their skillful business. Probably there is a need to set up institutions or training camps where these de-skilled artisans can return back to their origins and learn the art of crafts making," Sethi said.

They (artisans) need a lot of support, encouragement and funding in order to boost their business. These artisans have built up a reputation with their practice and apprentice over the years. They have the required skills that can leverage their business very well; however they are most often neglected and not given the importance that they deserve, she added further.