Big Artisans of Guwahati Face Challenge From Little Ones 

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Big and reputed artisans of Guwahati have been facing a tough challenge from their less-known counterparts from rural areas.

In the run-up to the Vishwakarma Puja it has come to light that small-scale artisans from rural areas who display idols for sale in roadsides in the city have been doing a brisk business. A number of reputed artisans in Guwahati are of the view that their share of market is being snatched by small-scale rural artisans. “In rural areas they can procure soil and materials at lower rates, and as such they can sell idols at chief rates. They beat us in the price line. On the other hand, we’ve to procure soil and other materials at higher prices. We even have to procure some materials from Kolkata. This leads to higher price,” an artisan from Beltola said, and added: “The government should ban the sale of idols in roadsides.” He further said: “We’ve idols of diverse price range – Rs 1,000-Rs 10,000. We’ve made 350 idols this year, but only 75 of them have been sold. Around a decade back, we used to sell around 80 per cent of idols made.”

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