|
|
|
Potters hope business booms due to Deepawali, India-China dispute
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
|
|
|
SME Times News Bureau | 16 Oct, 2020
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, while many industries have suffered major
economic blows, there are some who are likely to benefit because of the
India-China dispute.
Among these hopefuls are the artisans
who have been working in potters colony in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar
for almost 40 years. In addition to the wholesale market for hand-made
earthenware, there are retail markets too in the colony. People from
across the country come here to buy these clay items.
There are
about 500 families in the potters colony who are directly involved in
this trade with earthen items being prepared in almost every house in
the colony.
For Deepawali, earthen items like diyas, pots,
decorative items, jugs, cups and sculptures are prepared. However, some
families buy earthenware items from Gujarat, Kolkata and sell them in
other markets by getting them beautifully painted here.
All these
families suffered a jolt when the Covid-19 pandemic began with not a
single earthen item being sold from March to May. Now, people are
gradually coming out of their homes and buying goods.
One of
India's most popular festivals 'Deepawali' will be celebrated across the
country next month. Many people who have suffered heavily amid the
lockdown and unlock, might not celebrate the Festival of Lights with
pomp and show but in a simple way with precautions. With the festival
approaching the potters hope that business will increase three-fold,
especially because of the India-China dispute and boycott of Chinese
goods including decorative Diwali items, and the damage caused by the
pandemic can also be compensated for.
The potters' community
believes that using diyas (earthen lamps) over China-made lights and
decorative items during Deepawali will not only increase their business
but will also support the boycott of Chinese items across the country.
Harkishan
makes pottery and other items. He has been awarded the Shilpaguru
Award, the National Award and the Culture Award. He is also the head of
this colony.
He told IANS, "There are 500 families living in this colony and all are associated with this business."
Usually preparations for Deepawali start in summer but this time due to the pandemic there have been a lot of problems.
Harkishan
said, "I have discussed business with all the people and was told that
this time only 25 per cent of the usual business has been transacted.
All the people have reduced their work and thankfully so far there has
not been a single case of coronavirus in the area."
He said,
"People from Delhi-NCR, Haryana and UP come here to buy earthenware, but
they are not coming in large numbers right now. We will benefit greatly
by banning Chinese goods, there will be three-fold difference in
trade."
Harkishan said, "We can break China's back without fighting. This is our undisclosed war against China."
Every
Diwali trade in crores of rupees happens in this market. Some
youngsters living here also go to teach this art in art colleges.
Artisans
from Haryana, Rajasthan, Bengal and UP come and work here. Thousands of
people are associated with the trade, while items made here are also
exported.
Kishori Lal, who has been doing this work since the
70s, told IANS, "This time the business is slow. We earn in a season so
that we can get through the winter comfortably, but due to the lockdown
we had dismal sales this year. The shopkeepers who come to buy all this
from us already have old goods with them. That is why they are buying
less."
He added: "This time Diwali inflation will increase
further, due to which people will reduce their expenditure a little. We
are just praying to God that this time we survive with the least
expenditure, because the hope of good business is less."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customs Exchange Rates |
Currency |
Import |
Export |
US Dollar
|
66.20
|
64.50 |
UK Pound
|
87.50
|
84.65 |
Euro
|
78.25
|
75.65 |
Japanese
Yen |
58.85 |
56.85 |
As on 13 Aug, 2022 |
|
|
Daily Poll |
|
|
PM Modi's recent US visit to redefine India-US bilateral relations |
|
|
|
|
|
Commented Stories |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|