Artisans facing uncertain future due to mass production of ‘gods’

Agencies
September 9, 2018

Mysuru, Sept 9: Traditional idol makers of city are dwindling fast with rapid commercialisation of the festival and the entry of plaster of Paris (POP) and paper pulp Ganesha idols from other states.

With Ganesha Chaturthi to be celebrated on September 13 the artisans are worried as general public were losing faith and beauty of plain clay Gowri and Ganesha idols that are produced in the state in the unique Karnataka style.

There is not much time left for the extinction of both our style of idols and the artistes who have the knowledge to make them. It is imminent that the artistes turn to other professions soon, after all, the artistes too have to make a living, a senior Ganesha idol maker said here on Sunday.

“There were nearly 80 to 90 artisan families in Kumbarageri area of the city till two decades ago,” according to Revanna, an artiste specialising in clay models with more than 25 years of experience in the field. Today, one may hardly find about 10 to 15 families engaged in making Ganesh idols, he added.

Besides, the advent of POP idols which are rich in colour and light-weight, have made it difficult for the clay artisans.

“Though the government claims to have banned the POP idols and even made a show of their raids, it is only for publicity and the idols continue to be sold,” said Mr Revanna.

Kumbarageri has also seen a migration of artisan families in search of greener pastures and some of them have resettled in other parts of the city.

The Kumbarageri area itself has become highly commercialised with dense growth and does not permit the traditional way of functioning on roadsides by dumping huge quantities of clay. Hence some families have migrated to Koorgalli, Hebbal and surrounding areas where they continue to make Ganesh idols.

It takes the artisans anywhere between four to six months to prepare and make the idols. But with assembly line production of idols that flood the market, the idols that are locally made tend to be swamped out in the competition, said Mr. Revanna.

Comments

please read in your veda book..dont be foool...most hindus dont know what they religious book says simply depend on poojari...if he say to eat shit they are ready

Mashooq
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Na Tasya Pratima Asti. Dont worship creation. Worship creator.

Joseph
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Ganesha can be exported

Mohan
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Its should be tradition art of karnataka, stop mass production company intervene

Kumar
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Why govt cant take it as part of tourism and govt body with under govt monitoring. It's unique thing of Karnataka.

Ibrahim
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Govt should provide support to artisans. Should have tie up with Karnataka tourism. It should not be limited as seasons

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 30,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 30: In an attempt to tackle unemployment amidst covid-19 crisis, the Karnataka state government has launched a job portal connecting employers and job seekers.

The portal, 'Skill connect' ( https://skillconnect.kaushalkar.com/ ) provides region-wise and sector-wise job listings. An interested candidate can register on the portal and either apply for jobs or can also seek skill training. 

As on Monday, the portal has 25 registered companies with over 2000 jobs available in various sectors. 

The portal works more or less on similar lines as that of any private job portal, except that those posting jobs and candidates searching for employment will have to register with the Skill Development Department. 

Launching the portal on Monday, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa hoped that the portal would provide an impetus to job creation, as well as the economic revival of the state. 

Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan who is also the skill development Minister added, "All these years, there was no information and communication between job seekers and recruiters. This portal will solve that problem."

Also, until now, there hasn't been comprehensive information either on those seeking jobs or those looking for employees. The skill development efforts have not been in sync with the market. All these issues would be addressed by the portal, he said. 

According to Karnataka Skill Development Authority Managing Director Ashwin Gowda, the portal has already seen a response with about 68 applicants in just a day. 

Officials said even the organisations will have to register with the government while providing all documents concerned. The government aims to avoid any fake job advertisements through this. "We will also enable virtual interviews between the candidate and the employer," sources in the department told DH. 

Recently, the government had also launched a portal exclusively for migrants who had returned to Karnataka from other places. This was meant to work as a skill registry.

However, the portal that was launched on Monday, went a step ahead by connecting both the prospective employers and employees, according to officials in the department.

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Pratibha m Hugar
 - 
Tuesday, 7 Jul 2020

Civil engineering jobs 

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News Network
May 29,2020

Udupi, May 29: As many as 15 fresh coronavirus positive cases were reported in Udupi district today. 

11 among the new 15 covid-19 patients are males and four are females. The patients also include two children aged 6 and 7.

All of them are said to be Maharashtra returnees. 

With this, the total confirmed covid-19 cases in the district mounted to 164.

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News Network
January 2,2020

Shivamogga, Jan 2: A large number of farmers who wanted to stage a demonstration against Prime Minister Narendra Modi protesting the non-implementation of the 'Swaminathan Report' were detained at Bengaluru, Tumakuru and Shivamogga, police said on Thursday.

According to police, the detentions have taken place in certain parts of Tumakuru, near Bengaluru as well as in Shivamogga.

As part of his two-day visit to Karnataka, Modi is scheduled to visit Tumakuru on Thursday to pay his obeisance to the departed seer of Siddaganga Math Shivakumara Swamiji and meet the present pontiff Siddalinga Mahaswamiji.

Later, he would address a mega public meeting where he will give away the Krishi Karman awards.

In the evening he will reach Bengaluru to visit the DRDO facility to dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation.

Pressing implementation of the Swaminathan Report, which recommends a holistic national policy, the farmers under the leadership of Kodihalli Chandrashekar had planned to stage a demonstration at Tumakuru.

Before they could leave for Tumakuru, the police detained them.

According to Chandrashekar, the farmers have been arrested at Nelamangala, Herohalli near Magadi, Kunigal and Koratagere in Tumakuru district and Shivamogga.

Speaking to PTI, Chandrashekar said the BJP has betrayed farmers by not implementing the Swaminathan report.

"The BJP could implement all the agenda such as abrogation of Article 370, paving way for Ram Temple in Ayodhya and various other poll promises but it ignored its promise of implementing the Swaminathan report," the farmer leader said.

Chandrashekar also said he has been detained at a ground on Magadi Road along with two others while farmers who wanted to take part in the protest have been detained in different parts of the state.

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