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| Bhubaneswar, March 25: What was once looked upon as primitive, it has been redefined as modern and chic, churning crores in international markets, thanks to local artisans and NGOs promoting the products. Orissa’s tribal jewellery is being exported to 13 countries, including Russia, the UK, South Korea, South Africa, Argentina, Switzerland, Canada and Spain — to name a few. Currently, the state has 12 tribal communities whose handcrafted items are being marketed after certain value additions. The products include necklaces, earrings, anklets, bracelets, hairpins, hair-clips, mangalsutras, rings and more. And this trade involves some 2,500 young men and women in six districts of Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Khandhamal, Koraput, Nowrangpur and Sonepur. Helping them out are organisations, such as Anwesha, which has been involved in this business since 1989. And the group’s secretary, Bipin Bihari Sahoo, believes that matters have greatly improved over the past five years — as a result the group makes an annual profit of Rs 1 crore. The organisation employs as many as 5,000 tribal artisans in the jewellery trade. “The Orissa government’s efforts have helped, but dearth of raw material poses a problem. The raw materials, including brass, copper, white metal and silver have to be procured from outside and supplied to us. We get raw materials from Delhi, Calcutta and Raipur. When there is a delay, we face problems,” said Banu Nayak, an artisan from Phulbani. Serving as a link between the artisan and the market are Calcutta-based organisations such as Sasha that exports to 13 different countries. Nowadays most export products are tested at Jadavpur University (Calcutta) and certified accordingly. “The process started after European countries banned the import of goods with nickel and lead some three years ago,” added Sahoo. |
Tribal chic creates storm - Twist to traditional jewellery trend
Exam centres in Orissa jails for student inmates
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Cuttack (PTI): Examination centres would be opened in Orissa's Berhampur and Phulbani jails to help inmates appear in this year's matriculation examination beginning on March 26.
At least five jail inmates - two convicts and three others under trial - in these jails are getting ready for the examination, jail officials said.
"Arrangements to open two centres have been made. Teachers from nearby high schools will invigilate and respective jail superintendents will perform as centre superintendents," Board of Secondary Examination Secretary Prasant Kumar Samal said.
Four inmates of Berhampur jail would appear in both regular and ex-regular streams while one under-trial person in Phulbani jail, Bibhisan Kananr, would write the test as an ex-regular candidate.
Twenty-five-year-old Dilip Kumar Sahu and 22-year-old M Balaprasad, serving life sentence for separate murder cases in Berhampur jail, would appear the examination in regular stream.
"Budhia Sethy and Rabindranath Das, who had earlier been unsuccessful would appear again as ex-regular candidates," Welfare Officer of Berhampur Jail, Subash Chandra Pradhan said.
"They are preparing seriously for the examination. Jail teachers, fellow wardens and educated inmates are helping them," Pradhan said.
The jail authorities have procured books, test papers and other study material for them, he said.