:: ORUPA ::

	Applique

	Modern Applique

	Bamboo Craft

	Coir Works

	Dhokra

	Golden Grass

	Horn Craft

	Lacquer Work

	Pattacitra

	Palm Leaf Engraving

	Sabai Grass

	Silver Filigree

	Stone Carving

	Tassar Painting

	Wood Carving

	Painted Wooden Toys

GEOGRAPHICAL IDENTITY:

Orissa is surrounded by West Bengal on the Northeast, Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar) on the north, Chhatisgarh (formerly part of Madhya Pradesh) on the west and Andhra Pradesh on the south while the Bay of Bengal washes its shores on the east.

SADEIBERENI

THE DISTRICT:

Dhenkanal the headquarters of the district is a convenient base for visiting various places of interest.

The town is said to be named after the Savar Chief called “Dhenka”. Hindol and Kamakhyanagar are major towns of the district. Brahmani river flows through this area. Saptasajya, the very nearest to our cluster is an ideal picnic spot.

THE CLUSTER:

The village/cluster, Sadeibereni is considered as an artisan village since the primary source of livelihood of all the families are from Dhokra. 90 Scheduled Caste Dhokra Casting artisan families reside in the village Sadeibereni of Dhenkanal Sadar Block. The village is situated at a distance of 10 kilometers from the Block/District head quarter. The Secondary source of livelihood of the families is wage labour.

During the rainy season the artisans engage themselves as agricultural labourer for a period of three months as during this period the casting operation can not take place because of lack of well covered furnace. Ten years before all the families were bonded to the Dhokra traders of Dhenkanal and were working for them on wage/piece rate basis. To day with the intervention of ORUPA the existence of the traders has been minimized the groups have gone through the sensitization process and have been successfully operating in 8 SHGs for last 20 months. The working process has provided them with an opportunity of participating in the activities of ORUPA, interaction with other groups, market and customers, increasing awareness about the process of production and quality and finally the process of exploitation of the middlemen and the traders. The 8 SHGs are in the process of capacity building with planned intervention by ORUPA. Today the products produced by the groups are under the coverage of ORUPA marketing network. At present most of them are enlisted in the BPL list. This unique feature with the presence reach craftsmanship guided ORUPA to include groups for proposed application under Ambedkar Hastakala Vikash Yojana (AHVY) as one cluster.

THE CRAFT (DHOKRA CASTING):

Dhokra or the metal craft produced in cir de perdu (lost wax process) retains the archaic and primitive quality. Ally, brass & zinc is melted on a clay model and threading done by the waxing process. When thread is removed, it leaves an inducible pattern in metal. Again animals and traditional images dominate in the art form. The pattern is prefect gift for someone who understand art. The craft is made by the craftsmen by using the ancient method. Till date the same practice is on.

These are widely admired and collected for their ethnic beauty and artistic ingenuity, produced by nomadic tribes called Situalias and Thataras. These are sold in weekly village hats. The deer, horse, elephant, figurines are cast in brass with decorative texturing. The mana (measuring bowls), lamps, lamp stands with peacocks, elephants, the figures of Goddess Mahalaxmi, (goddess of wealth) seated on an elephant with a decorated arch at the back are quite common in Sadeibereni and Kuliana area. Presently the craft is being practiced in the cluster by both male & female artisans.

AHVY - DC (H) ASSOCIATION:

“Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastasilpa Vikas Yojana”, aims at promoting Indian handicrafts by developing artisan clusters into professionally managed and self-reliant community enterprises on the principles of effective member participation and mutual cooperation. The thrust of the scheme is on a projected need based integrated approach for sustainable handicrafts development through participation of craft persons leading to their empowerment.

CASE STUDIES:

In the Village of Sadeibereni , Mr. Sanatan Pradhan, an artisan engaged in Dhokra work said that orupa's intervention boosted their income. Prior to orupa's help they were earning merely Rs.500/- to 600/- per month. Now, their income almost has doubled. Sometimes it goes up even to Rs.2000/- to 2500/- per month.

“Previously the middlemen were supplying us the raw material and buying the finished product on the basis of weight. We were always the losers. Sometimes, due to unintentional wastage, we were eroding our capital. But once Orupa began buying our products on piece rate basis, our income went up. We did not have any idea about marketing of our products. Most significantly, the design development programme arranged by Orupa helped us a lot. The new products not only fetches us a good price but also has a demand”, said Sanatan Pradhan, the only matriculate in Sadeibereni village. He carries on the family tradition of dhokra work along with his wife and mother.

GARHMADHUPUR

THE DISTRICT:

Jajpur is one of the coastal districts of Orissa. The total geographical area is 2,888.0 Sqr.K.M. The total population is 16,22,868 according to 2001 census.

The district is surrounded by Keonjhar and Bhadrak in its North, Kendrapara in its east, Cuttack in its south and Dhenkanal in west. The literacy level is 72.19% of the total population of the district. The district has ten Blocks and 242-Gram Panchayatas.

THE CLUSTER:

Garhmadhupur cluster is located in the Kamagarh Gram Panchayat, which falls under the Tahsil & Block of Dharmasala of the district Jajpur. The selected cluster comprising of the artisans from the following hamlets and the villages i.e Kamagarh, Antia, Gengutia-Bharatpur, Betmali, Kustira and Srichandanpur etc. are essentially an agricultural base. More than 90% of the villagers live in the villages.

Highest proportion of golden grass artisans in the cluster as against the district Jajpur and of the region of coastal belt. Out of the total population of the district, 7518 nos. of population live in the cluster. The total household of the cluster is 1163. Out of the total households 876 are BPL & 286 families are APL. The cluster is predominantly agrarian in character as more than 60% households depend on it as the main sources of income. After agriculture about 31% of households depends on the income of Golden Grass. 10% depends on daily wages and other sources of income.

THE CRAFT (GOLDEN GRASS):

The idea of this product most probably came from the day to day living need of the poor people who can not afford to buy many utensils, containers and household goods to store their goods/foods. This craft is not a very old one and continued by the local village people, which turned out to be a popular craft.

The main attraction of this is the grass it self which is used to make the eco-friendly products. The grass is golden in colour and shines and hence the name Goldengrass. The products made look attractive and quite versatile. It never losses it's golden charm of shining and has got a longer life. Presently the craft is being practiced in the cluster by majority of the women.

AHVY - DC (H) ASSOCIATION:

“Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastasilpa Vikas Yojana”, aims at promoting Indian handicrafts by developing artisan clusters into professionally managed and self reliant community enterprises on the principles of effective member participation and mutual cooperation. The thrust of the scheme is on a projected need based integrated approach for sustainable handicrafts development through participation of craft persons leading to their empowerment.

CASE STUDIES:

Mrs. Saraswati Rout (51) has been doing golden grass work for 25 years at Garhamadhupur. She has witnessed ups and downs in this trade. Along with managing her family chores, she spends at least 5 to 6 hours daily in this craft activity. Prior to Orupa's intervention she was earning a meager sum of Rs. 6 to 8 daily. Today, she earns Rs 10 to 15 while working with other members of her group called Aadisakti Mahila Samiti. So far, the group has not succeeded in bank credit linkage.

While the training input in fresh design ideas from ORUPA, Saraswati is today a confident woman and has total control over the money she earns. Orupa's intervention has enhanced their income level though not substantially. “Orupa had assured us of facilities as part of Ambedkar Yojana , DC (H). But till date, they have fulfilled only two of their promises: the working capital of Rs.500 to each member of a group of 20 in an SHG, and design development program. Both are beneficial to us.” But she regrets that she is not getting the right price for the products she makes. If the products find better market, it could fetch her better price.