Research Insights

There are multiple reasons for a craft to decline. To understand these reasons secondary research was done through looking at online articles, research papers, books, craft documentations, and pool magazines. After doing our secondary research, we initially contacted different individuals working in the craft sector for our primary research and then later on conducted in-person interviews and observations with Pethapur block makers. We also conducted telephone interviews with different stakeholders of the artisans in Pethapur. From the primary research we have mapped following insights.

Why do we need to preserve the languishing crafts?

• Craft sector is 2nd largest income generation sector in India

• Crafts are the Identity of particular Community

• Crafts are the way of income for may crafts clusters

• Crafts are unique because of its originality of processes and techniques

• Craft death is a major loss for the country as we lose the rooted cultural essence of different communities.

• Crafts brings in diversity and it is most sustainable way of production

• Crafts brings in Perspectives of different cluster of communities

• Craft showcases natural human capabilities

• Crafts are the Manifestation of cultural heritage of the country

Why crafts are languishing ?

• Lack of availability of material resources : For some crafts, availability of materials is a key concern as natural materials are also running out.

• Lack of availability of sufficient data : Non-availability of handicraft related data such as lack of consensus on defining handicrafts, it is difficult to gather the exact data related to handicrafts.

• Industrialization and mass production challenge : The transition of the modern way of life, the production diversity, the spread diversity and the sales diversity results in the decrease of the desire for traditional handicraft industry.

• Unwillingness of young generation to continue to craft as a profession : The young generation finds it difficult to undergo complex and time-consuming process of handicraft production, hence they generally do not intend to choose this profession, instead, they prefer to work in factories with less demanding work with higher salary.

• Lack of availability of basic infrastructure : The inadequate infrastructure facilities makes it difficult for the artisan to accomplish the required tasks in time and get optimum output.

• Lack of financial support : Since crafts are the source of income for craft families, inadequate financial support makes it difficult for them to source basic materials needed for the crafts.

• Lack of awareness : Most of the craft clusters are settled in a village areas where literacy rate is less.Due to this artisans are unaware of the outer world, different policies and schemes launched by government and market requirements.

• Lack of recognition : Crafts is a identity of craft clusters, but because of industrialized world crafts are losing its identity and hence artisans are not getting enough recognition.

• Changing patterns of consumer needs : Because of industrialization, variety of options are available for consumers. Hence it is difficult for artisans to analyze changing consumer needs and act accordingly.

• Availability of alternate job opportunities : As artisans are not getting enough value in crafts sector,they tend to take alternative job options.

• Migration of artisans : Many times, due to unfavorable environmental conditions or for job purpose, artisans and crafts clusters migrate to different places ultimately which leads to languish the crafts

• Not sharing trade secrets : Some craftsmen do not believe in sharing their crafts knowledge to other people from different communities as craft knowledge is their trade secret.

• Unhealthy competition within crafts clusters : Within craft cluster there are many conflicts between craft families because of ego issues which is responsible for unhealthy competitions in crafts clusters.

• Exploitation by other parties : Mostly for trading and marketing, middlemen are involved between craftsmen and end consumers. sometimes middlemen tend to take advantage of poor conditions of artisans which leads to exploitation of craft and artisans.

What are the Issues Artisans face?

• Artisans get less value for crafts in return of their efforts.

• Sharing of knowledge is not two ways

• Unwillingness to change their negative mentality

• Jealousy and negative attitude towards successful artisans

• Lack of self respect and self value in artisans

• artisans consider themselves as labors and not as artists

• Duplication and mass production with the help of technology which hampers craft sector

• Lack of people showing interest in an in-depth learning of crafts

• No suitable market for intricate and expensive crafts

• Demeaning value of artisans by designers, students, organizations and brands.

• Lack of unity within crafts community

• Imposition of ignorant government

• Lack of Inter-community collaborations.

• Forceful shifting from their traditional ecosystems