Problem/Need
Among
the 10 major artisanal groups in India, potters
comprise the fourth largest but second poorest group
with an estimated 10 lakh people directly or indirectly
involved in this vocation. Despite the existence
of a stable and consistent demand for a narrow range
of pottery-ware, these traditional potters are in
a deep crisis due to severe competition from industrial
products like plastic and aluminium goods. They
are unable to met this challenge since there has
been a drastic depletion of raw materials, as suitable
clay becomes more and more scarce, while there is
no innovation or upgradation of their skills and
technologies. Attempts to alleviate their lot through
providing technological inputs remained largely
unsuccessful since merely mechanizing some processes
may lead to increased productivity but the shrinking
market remains a fatal bottleneck.
Range
of Products
Approach/Strategy
In
order to resolve this problem a countrywide study
of production practices of potters and in-depth
R&D work was conducted with the help of CGCRI
and several VOs. This led to the evolution of a
technology package, which successfully resolved
the problems of poor quality and depleting white
clay resources by developing a protocol of admixtures
for red-clay and appropriately scaled machinery
for clay processing. As a result, the potter can
now utilize the commonly found red-clay for making
excellent quality glazed-ware obviating the dependence
on costly white clay. Moreover, with the introduction
of this new technology, the product range of the
potter expands, and thus the dying trade can be
rejuvenated. The salient features of this technology
package are:
-
Suitable treatment, processing and admixture
techniques for upgradation of the quality if
common or red-clay.
-
Matching non-toxic glazes.
-
Appropriately scaled machinery for use by potter
groups.
-
New type kilns for fuel efficiency and reduction
of breakage.
-
Innovative product range including tableware,
decorative items and construction material.
-
Low cost bone-ash preparation for bone china.
-
A system-design incorporating clusters of potters,
using the technology package, and producing
the innovative product range with suitable marketing
strategy.
-
Data base on diverse clay types, quality upgradation
protocols, technical and economic features of
clay-based artisanal production and social dimensions
of artisanal pottery.
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