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z Available online at http://www.journalcra.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT RESEARCH International Journal of Current Research Vol. 8, Issue, 01, pp.25800-25806, January, 2016 ISSN: 0975-833X RESEARCH ARTICLE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TERRACOTTA COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIVELIHOOD OF PEOPLE- A CASE STUDY OF BANKURA TERRACOTTA CRAFT HUB *,1Pinki Mandal Sahoo, 2Prakriti Joddar, 2Sushama Biswas and 2Biplab Sarkar 1Faculty, Department of Geography, Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, West Bengal State University, 85 Middle Road, Barrackpore, Kolkata - 700120 2M.Sc 3rd Semester Students of Department of Geography (2015), Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, West Bengal State University, 85 Middle Road, Barrackpore, Kolkata - 700120 ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Bankura district is famous as a hub of small cottage industries in West Bengal, and “terracotta” cottage industry plays a great role in this sector. Terracotta cottage industry is originated in Received 24th October, 2015 Received in revised form Panchmura village of Taldangra block adjacent to Bishnupur block of Bankura district and the market 22nd November, 2015 area of terracotta products mainly located in Bishnupur municipality (ward no. 2&3). Various types of Accepted 08th December, 2015 Terracotta artworks are being manufactured in this village like terracotta horse, Manasha jhar Published online 31st January, 2016 (Hanging clay lamps), doll, women’s water pot, the tribal art, models of monkey, cat, astray flower vase, horse, ganesh (Hindu God), incense sticks stand, and Terracotta jewellery etc. Every members of Key words: the family join into this profession including the children. The economic condition of the potters of Panchmura village and the people dependent on the terracotta industry in the Bishnupur Municipality Terracotta, is not so healthy. As the production cost is very high than the labour cost, the producers could not be Potter, Handicrafts, benefitted. Another reason of this backward condition is the presence of “Middle Man”. The middle Production cost, men purchase the handicrafts from producers at a very low rate and sell it in the market at profitable Labour cost, cost. This is very much unsatisfactory to the producers. In recent times to increase the interest on this Tradition. profession and to make alive of these traditional artworks, the state government, state craft’s council and central government issue many awards, organize numerous exhibitions and grants aid to terracotta cottage industry for encouraging and helping the producers. As a result the producers get motivated and interested to make new design terracotta handicrafts to get recognition in the world market. Copyright © 2016 Pinki Mandal Sahoo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Citation: Pinki Mandal Sahoo, Prakriti Joddar, Sushama Biswas and Biplab Sarkar, 2016. “The Significance of terracotta cottage industry in the socio-economic livelihood of people- A case study of Bankura terracotta craft hub”, International Journal of Current Research, 8, (01), 25800-25806. INTRODUCTION business corridor of West Bengal. Bishnupur plays an important role in the field of terracotta cottage industry. All Terracotta cottage industry in Bankura is one of the most products of terracotta industry of Bishnupur are bought from important sections of Bengal art pottery. Bankura art form is an Panchmura village. There are 60-70 potter families lived in ancient form than the art form of Krishnanagar (Amar Nath Panchmura village. They all are directly joined with terracotta Shaw, 2011, Page: 40). The Kumbhakar or potters of cottage industry. Therefore the origin area of terracotta industry Panchmura village of Taldangra block adjacent to Bishnupur is identified in Panchmura village and Bishnupur municipality, block of Bankura district first initiated to make the famous ward no. 2 and 3 are identified as market areas. Bankura horses (Fig.1). The ‘Bankura Horse’ has now come to be regarded as a symbol of the artistic excellence of Indian Study area rural handicrafts - a fact which finds confirmation in its use as the official crest-motif of the All India Handicrafts Board. Bishnupur is a famous city of Bankura district and it is in south Bishnupur municipality is a trade base town. It is the largest of Bankura. Bishnupur is famous for the temple of terracotta, heritage building and mostly for his small cottage industry. *Corresponding author: Pinki Mandal Sahoo, Faculty, Department of Geography, Barrackpore Rastraguru Bankura is also known as heritage city. Bishnupur covered Surendranath College, West Bengal State University, 85 Middle Road, 23°06´N Latitude and 87°31´ E Longitude of Bankura district Barrackpore, Kolkata – 700120. of West Bengal (Municipality data). 25801 Pinki Mandal Sahoo et al. The significance of terracotta cottage industry in the socio-economic livelihood of people- A case study of Bankura terracotta craft hub Fig. 1. Location map of Bishnupur Municipality and Panchmura:Terracota Hub Total population of Bishnupur is 156822 (2011 Census) and To identify the dependency of the total population on this Bishnupur is a municipal area. The Bishnupur subdivision is industry. located at 150 km west to Kolkata, the capital of the west To understand the impact of the terracotta industry on the Bengal. So, our study area is Bishnupur municipality in social life and economy of the local people. Bankura district. Objectives To identify the status of terracotta industry whether running profitably or not. We have set some objectives of our study as follows: To understand the terracotta industry whether maintaining To identify the terracotta industry clusters of the study area. the tradition. 25802 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 08, Issue, 01, pp.25800-25806, January, 2016 MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS The survey is done on the basis of primary and secondary data. The Economic development of the study area is based mainly The primary data was collected by field survey through on the terracotta industry. In recent days the people of this area questionnaires keeping in tune with our set objectives. The have a probability in shifting their job from this industry to primary data has been collected through observation, door to other, due to lack of income, high price rate of raw materials, door interview by purposive random sampling. Whereas the low amount of profit, high packaging cost etc. The usages of different types of secondary data were collected from different plaster of Paris, plastic, fibers are increasing day by day, which governmental offices like NATMO, Census Office, Bikash attracts people to other jobs than clay pottery. However in the Bhaban, BDO and SDO office in Bishnupur Municipality. traditional terracotta works, the whole sellers and retailer earn First at the pre field stage, huge literature review, plan for more than the producer of the products, which pushes art collection of different data from different sources, preparation workers in an extremely unfavorable condition. Government of questionnaire were done. At the post field stage we have loan which can be get from local co-operative society (Fig. 2) accumulated all primary and secondary data and categorized give an opportunity to provide soil, raw material and other statistically for detailed analysis and understanding and we kinds of required materials to the producers. As a result, the have tried to prepare this paper using our field observation, production and profit will also increase. It is desirable that analytical knowledge with simple cartographic methods as an producers should organize a market where they can directly sell instrument. their products to the customers. Fig. 2. Panchmura Clay Potters’ Co-Operative Society Fig. 3. Various Mechanisms in Terracotta Cottage Industry 25803 Pinki Mandal Sahoo et al. The significance of terracotta cottage industry in the socio-economic livelihood of people- A case study of Bankura terracotta craft hub Table 1. The Cost of the Products in Terracotta Industry Products Local Price Price In Other States Giant Horse Rs. 500-700 a pair Rs. 800-1500 Women’s water pot Rs. 200-300 Rs. 400-500 Manasa Jhar Rs.500-600 Rs. 1000-1200 The tribal art, monkey, cat Rs. 60-100 Rs. 150-200 Small doll, astray flower vase, horse, Ganesh, agarbatti stand Rs. 2-20 Rs. 30-60 Terracotta jewellery Rs. 50-150 Rs.200-250 Source: Surveyed by Authors Table 2. Working Population by Gender Category Number IN Percentage% Male 21 65.63 Female 11 34.37 Total 32 100 Source: Primary survey, Computed by Authors Table 3. Non-Working Population by Gender Category Number IN % Male 15 39.47 Female 23 60.53 Total 38 100 Source: Primary survey, Computed by Authors Nowadays, the state government should take the importance of viii) Firing: Lastly it is placed to fire for hardiness. (Amar this industry and should identify its importance in local Nath Shaw, 2011, Page:48) economy. If the government can understand the problems of this industry and take measure to mitigate the problems, the However through the survey, the cost of variety of artworks are situation will surely be improved for the terracotta industry been identified both in local and from outside market. workers. (Table: 1) DISCUSSION Present Economic Condition The Latin word ‘Terracotta’ means ‘Baked earth’. Mainly this