Lac smuggling puts craft at risk of extinction

NABARANGPUR: Lac craft of Nabarangpur has put the district on the world map. But the handicraft may soon become part of history.Procurement of the raw material for the handicraft, lac, has become difficult. Though it was abundantly available in the past, these days lac is being smuggled out of the district putting the artisans in a quandary.  Lacquered articles are wooden ware  with lac bases. Craftsmen prepare lac boxes, toys, bangles and other decorative items with unique designs. Spinning thin coloured threads from lac to design the articles is the speciality of Nabarangpur. The members of Sankhari community of the district, one of the most backward,  dedicated themselves for decorating palaces of kings and zamindars on festive occasions with lac craft. Today, the Sankhari community having just 500 members continue with this age-old tradition but the craft is mostly women-dominated now.  They lamented that though the craft has brought laurels to the district, the government agencies are reluctant to patronise it.  As a result, there is virtually no marketing facilities for the handicraft items. This has gradually affected the economic condition of the craftsmen.  “Though we have stuck to this craft, the scarcity of raw material and apathy of the government are making things worse,” said Nandan, a craftsman.  Under these circumstances, many craftsmen are diversifying into other sources of livelihood.