Effect Of Pandemic In The Life Of A Handicraft Artist
We saw the effect of the covid pandemic on handicraft artists the handicraft sector was so destructive. When the lockdown of the covid pandemic was going on. We can not express it in words. All the handicraft fair & selling sectors stopped. The effects of the covid pandemic on handicraft artists are so destructive. “It has been seventy-five Saturdays if not more no “hat” has taken place in Khoai. Due to the lockdown. Yes, that same place where we were used to seeing people from different backgrounds spending time appreciating the hard work behind every stroke of sculpture or a batik sari. In times like these where handicrafts are leveled as “non-essential” can you imagine the life of that forty-five years old father from Charid who put a whole month to make a Chhau mask just to earn money for his daughter’s marriage”.
“হাট বসেছে শুক্রবারে বক্সীগঞ্জে পদ্মাপারে, জিনিসপত্র জুটিয়ে এনে গ্রামের মানুষ বেঁচে কেনে।”
– Rabindranath Tagore
Effect of Lockdown in Handicraft
It has been seventy-five Saturdays if not more no “hat” has taken place in Khoai, yes that same place where we were used to seeing people from different backgrounds spending time appreciating the hard work behind every stroke of sculpture or a batik sari. In times like these where handicrafts are leveled as “non-essential” can you imagine the life of that forty-five years old father from Charida who put a whole month to make a Chhau mask just to earn money for his daughter’s marriage. Due to covid lockdown, the pandemic effect on the handicraft fair was so destructive, all handicraft fairs were stopped & the handicraft sector had to borrow a huge loss which was big damage to the handicraft sector for this covid lockdown/ pandemic.
VOCAL FOR LOCAL
Despite the call for “vocal for local” that twenty-six years old son could not feed his mother. Just because Central Cottage Industries Emporium failed to sell its logo art the ‘Bankura Horse.’ Darbar Sahitya Sansada works with eight hundred artisans in one hundred and fifty villages covering four districts of Odisha. These artisans make natural fiber products from coir and grass, applique products from cloth, terracotta products from clay, dhokra brass jewelry, and the famous Pattachitra paintings. Since the covid lockdown, there has been no sale through exhibitions, orders, or handicraft fairs. National Skill Development Corporation had estimated that approximately 7.3 million people depend on handicraft and allied activities for livelihood. Along with tourism, creative sectors are among the most affected by the current pandemic crisis. With jobs at risk ranging from 0.8-5.5% of employment. Which was highly damaged for the handicraft sector by the covid pandemic lockdown.
Cruel Reality Of The Covid Pandemic Effect On Handicraft Sector:
Most of the craftsmen have been out of work. So, they are now looking for agricultural work or to migrate again. Due to the lockdown of covid pandemic’s effect on the handicraft sector/ fair. When the “Hastashilpi mela” (Handicraft fair) and other exhibitions were normally going, the workers did not get that much of a share. But the covid pandemic has taken that bare minimum too. Now anyone can ask ‘In these tough lockdown times most people are struggling to fulfill basic needs like food & shelter. How you can ask them to buy art??” My answer would be “What about the food of the kid whose mother used to earn money from embroidering that fine fabric ??”
Let The Sun Rise Again!
If I am to talk about how tormenting this covid pandemic must have been for handicraft artisans. I may never stop but what I can request now is that the times are a little better the next time you think of buying some decor pieces purchase them from artisans, who are struggling there are multiple e-stores to help you out, do not put your money on a replica of old art, the dead do not need your money but the living do. Lastly, I would just like to say the effect of the covid pandemic on handicraft artists/ sector gives them a hard time but they are fighting back. It’s time to support them. The effect of the Pandemic on Handicraft fair turned to close them and that affected the artisans very badly.
