Now Reading: Stone shortage threatens Khordha’s traditional sculptors
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Stone shortage threatens Khordha’s traditional sculptors
A shortage of suitable stone is threatening the livelihoods of nearly 500 to 600 artisans in Narangarh Panchayat, Khordha district, OdishaTV reports. Sculptors from Kurumpada, Bhogpur and Hadapada have traditionally made idols…
The Story in Brief
A shortage of suitable stone is threatening the livelihoods of nearly 500 to 600 artisans in Narangarh Panchayat, Khordha district, OdishaTV reports. Sculptors from Kurumpada, Bhogpur and Hadapada have traditionally made idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Ganesha and other deities for markets in Odisha and beyond. They say access worsened after the Baulamala Hills came under the Odisha Mining Corporation in 2020. Artisans allege that available stone is costly and poor in quality, while large blocks have become scarce. Some say promised bank loans did not arrive, despite training and toolkits under the Central Government’s Vishwakarma Yojana. The Additional Khordha Collector has promised talks with OMC and the district administration.
The Indian Opinion
The easy story is that training and toolkits can revive a traditional trade. That misses the practical bottleneck: a sculptor cannot work without affordable, usable stone. The opposite claim, that official ownership alone caused the decline, also needs proof. The district administration’s response should be judged by delivery, not assurances. Can artisans obtain large blocks at viable prices, and will the promised loans reach them? The number of working sculptors and their earnings over the next year will show whether the craft is recovering.
Source: odishatv.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
