Intending to foster sustainable livelihoods and increase the commercial attractiveness of traditional seashell crafts, a team from KIIT-TBI conducted a thorough field survey in Kharagan village, located in Puri district. This effort is part of the project titled “Feasibility Study to Identify and Promote Commercially Viable Technologies for Value-Added Product Development in Seashell Crafts from Puri Region of Odisha” in which the objective was to assess the current situation of seashell artisans by investigating their socio-economic circumstances, traditional skills, use of technology, access to markets, financial viability, and the challenges they face in terms of growth. This research is set to reveal potential opportunities for innovation and strategic actions that could enhance the commercial prospects of seashell crafts in the area.
The survey group included Dr. Barada Prasanna Sahoo (Project Leader), Mr. Manoranjan Maharana (Expert), Mr. Suramya Mishra (Expert), and Ms. Nibedita Khatua (Investigator), who developed a detailed questionnaire to capture the essential details about the artisans’ profiles, such as their skill levels, income sources, market reach, and the use and potential of technology, finance feasibility and sustainability to improve value-added seashell products.
As part of the survey, the team interacted with 50 artisans who are currently engaged in seashell crafting within the area. These artisans recounted their experiences, providing insight into the traditional methods, the materials and the challenges faced in maintaining their craft.
Furthermore, the team had the opportunity to meet two Master artisans, Senhalata Patra and Sulochana Pradhan, recognized for their skill in seashell crafting. They provided valuable insights into the supply chain, market dynamics, tourist impact and existing variation of artisan crafting skills
From the survey, several bottlenecks related to the craft and artisans were identified like; the existence of a communication gap between government schemes and artisans, inadequate infrastructure facility, technical constraints, costly transportation and confined and limited market access etc. Addressing these challenges through targeted interventions can help sustain this heritage craft and unlock new development opportunities.
Though the previously surveyed villages, Sadanandapur and Kharagan, are located nearby, the dynamics of seashell craftsmanship practised in each are quite different. This reflects the often-unorganized nature of the handicraft sector, where, as the saying goes, “many hands, many techniques.”
Glimpses
