Orissa's Sambalpuri weavers: From boom to bust

There were many factors that contributed to this fall. The cooperative societies that organized the artisans together, were highjacked by the politicians through some clever manipulations in the elections, to be able to make an extra buck for themselves. The result was that the cooperatives closed down, and the artisans had to rely on middlemen to market their products. This reduced the wages that the artisians finally received. At the same time, the cottom boom caught up and gave though competition to the Sambalpuri materials. The result was that their fortunes turned, and what once used to be a happy, respectable, and profitable profession, now became quite the opposite. Rehabilitation efforts have been proposed, and include diversification into other materials and trading options. But this incident should be remembered as a learning experience for NGOs and weavers across the country because corruption and capitalism are not always to be blamed, but the people themselves can safeguard their future by increasing their awareness to trends and new businesses. The governments should also provide insurance support to entrepreneurs who are willing to take the risk and explore alternative options.