Recently, I was
gifted a Sari with stitch work which in local language called Kantha stitch
Sari. I got to know that the price of the Sari is Rs. 5890. The reason behind
mentioning the price will reveal in the course of writing. Back to point, I am
fully surprised. I saw exactly the same sari in 2008, the difference between two
is which I got is a finished product and what I saw was in the process of
manufacturing.
For this purpose,
I like to mention that I was associated with a Socio-Economic Survey at Singur
in West Bengal, in India in 2008. During the time of survey, I had to visit each house
of the village which allotted for me for question answer purpose. There I saw
most of the female section of the village was engage in handicraft work for
instance making Bindi( Indian girl wear on the forehead as the purpose of
makeup),making rakhi (a band which sister tie on brother’s wrist on rakhi
festival), doing stitch work on Sari, Salwar Kamiz, Tops, Kurtas, Punjabis, Bed
sheet and many others. Now I want to present a figure of Price comparison.
Item
|
Selling Price in Urban Area
|
The price Given to the Handicraft worker of the
rural area
|
Rakhi
|
1 Piece- Min Price Rs.30/-
|
1 box containing minimum 12
Rakhi - Rs.10
|
Bindi (Designer)
|
1 Piece- Min Price Rs.30/-
|
1 box containing minimum 20 designer bindi-Rs.10
|
Sari (Kantha Stitch)
|
Minimum Rs. 5000/-
|
Rs.150/-
|
Stitched Salwar Suit
|
Minimum Rs. 550
|
Rs.70/-
|
Note: Source of all these Manufacturing Price which I had seen in my
survey period.
I don’t think that there is radical change in this situation till
today .This huge amount of price difference memorised me with wonder once
again. According to me, those who associated in these handicraft works, they
also wonder if they know how much their product cost in urban area.
Practical fact is that, those who do the handicraft work are belong
to very poor section of the society. They have to finish all their daily chores.
After that, they do these works in the spare time or resting time. This work
caused eye problem. But they are too poor to avail the remedy for their eyes.
What they got through handicraft work is less than their daily need for food
and clothing. So, they can’t think even of spectacles for them. Other than eye
problem these also bring pain in wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Now the question is how long this process continues? How long they
deprived by middleman? How long they can’t get right compensation for their
talent?
There are some Ngo’s, private organization and Government
organization who works with the aim to helping them. But the numbers of these
kinds of organization are too small for the huge mass. The process to give the
proper right of cost to the handicraft worker, Government comes
first in the cue of responsibility. Government has the responsibility to
abolish the middle man system and should understand that responsibility is not
over by conducting some fairs. It is the government who should make aware the
handicraft worker about the market price of their product and how much they are
deprived by the middle man. Government should arrange an interface where buyer
and seller can meet and arrange the process by which manufacturer get right
amount of profit.
As well as we all have the responsibility to get aware and bring
ourselves to help the society and organization who help the handicraft worker.
When someone appreciate our look with a Stitch work sari or our choice of
Stitch work Salwar in the party, please keep in mind the hand that makes us
beautiful is still deprived and struggle with hunger. We have only thing to do
is just try to appreciate the talent which give us appreciation.
