Pingalwara extending a helping hand to artisans

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 4

In an attempt to rescue the dwindling the traditional craft industry in the region, Pingalwara has come up with allied workshops and working closely with artisans, weavers, who are the last of their generation of craftsman.

Providing the necessary push to the dying Thathera craft of Jandiala Guru, clay utensils from Tarn Taran and hand knotted carpet weavers of Rajasansi, the society has been providing a channel to reach out to the potential buyers and also raising financial status through collaborations.

“We have been working with these artisans, craftsmen since many years. Identifying the dying handicrafts and handlooms, including the hand knotted as well as loom made carpets in Rajasansi area, we have provided these weavers with work and possibilities of tie ups with our overseas volunteers and patrons,” informs Yogesh Suri, who is an active volunteer with Pingalwara. Suri has been working with the carpet weavers to create exclusive pieces for foreign market.

“The traditional carpet industry of Rajasansi specialised in making handmade Persian style carpets. With added costs of production and dwindling numbers of artisans, the industry has almost died, barring only 10 families left to carry on with the job that too part time. We work with these families, mostly creating pieces that take a month or more for production. Over the years, the income per carpet for the weavers has doubled, with a single carpet earning them Rs 10,000 (on an average). But since it’s not enough and with no support and infrastructural help, the artisans are in distress,” he says. Carpets from Amritsar had such repute that exports to Russia and European countries saw a surge until 1995.

The society has also collaborating with Thatera utensil and clay utensil makers by providing a direct sale platform. “We also run skill development programme for our inmates where we teach them these handicrafts to enable them to learn and be self- reliant and promote them,” he adds.