Empowerment of Artisans
Magan Sangrahalaya is the head office of the Rashtriya Karigar Panchayat. Karigar Panchayat is a network of organizations working for artisans in 21 states of India linked with around one lakh artisans.
Karigar Panchayat is a voluntary movement to support, protect and empower traditional artisans and their crafts. These artisans include woodworkers, blacksmiths, bamboo workers, leather artisans, honey gatherers, potters, metal workers, fabric weavers, grass weavers, toymakers, stone and woodcarvers, house builders, and confectioners.
The objective of Karigar Panchayat movement is to assist artisans to procure artisan identity cards; safe secure space in the market; regular supply of raw material; improved tools; designer assistance in qualitative improvement of products; assistance in product diversification according to market demand; energy-efficient processing technology; appropriate rates; tools to reduce drudgery and safety guards to minimize hazards.
Saved 200 Potter Families from Indebtedness and Starvation
The potter families of Sindhi village (Wardha) earn their livelihood through making and selling mud idols of Gods and Goddesses like Ganpati, and Lakshmi. However, during the last two decades, cheaper and lighter Plaster of Paris idols captured the market and marginalized 200 potter families making mud idols.
Karigar Panchayat took the initiative of organizing an extensive campaign to ban the sale and Visarjan of Ganapati idols made from Plaster of Paris . With active participation and cooperation of the potter community, environmental groups, religious communities, business houses, local government, and the general public, the campaign was exceptionally successful, and eventually, the sale of Plaster of Paris idols was banned. The movement boosted the sale of environment-friendly mud Ganapati idols.
All the 200 potter households regained their lost market and livelihood. Even now, the potters of Wardha continue to rule the market of the Ganpati idols. After the success of this campaign in Wardha, potters in other parts of Vidarbha followed suit and regained their market.
Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti
J.C.Kumarappa Marg, Wardha 442001(Maharashtra)
Phone : 07152245082
E-mail – magansamiti@gmail.com