More artisans apply for clay idol subsidy

More artisans apply for clay idol subsidy
By Shweta Kamat
PANJIM, SEPT 2
Encouraged by the government move to ban plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, the number of artisans availing the government benefit for clay idols in the run up to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is on the rise.
Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development. Corporation (GHRSSIDC) Chairman Sameer Salgaocar said that this year. almost 500 artisans have applied for the subsidy.
The State run corporation last year had distributed around Rs 45 lakhs.to various artisans as subsidy, which was aimed to promote clay idols and shun idols carved out from plaster of Paris (PoP).
“We have increased the quantum of subsidy this year onwards,” Salgaocar said.
He said that last year Rs 100 per idol for maximum of 150 idols was paid by the government which is now enhanced to Rs 100 per idol for a maximum of 250 idols.
“There is no limit for minimum idols but ceiling on maximum idols that can be benefited has been increased,” the chairman said.
The corporation has deputed its teams which will inspect the idols at various places before approving the subsidy.
“It’s a cheering sign that the number of artisans are increasing,”Salgaocar said.
Responding to a question, the chairman said that the corporation has no right to check the sale of idols made from plaster of Paris in the market.
“Police will have to work against such idols and I presume the action has started,” he added.
An idol maker from Marcel said that they have been into the business of making clay idols since time immemorial.
“We don’t make idols because government pays us subsidy but surely the amount comes handy for us to tackle the high cost of raw material required to make Ganesh,” the artist said.
Dalvi, an artist from city said that the numbers of clay idols we are making are far less than the PoP idols; but we are seeing a rise in the demand for clay idols.
“Till last year, I was selling some 30 clay idols. This year, the number will go up to 50. We have already received orders for over a dozen clay idols, which is a good sign,” Dalvi said.
To add-up, Earthworm, a creative green-initiative, in collaboration with Ecoexist, a Pune based group has brought  Ganesh idols made of mud and natural colours, which will be kept open for sale from September 4.
“This is for the first time in Goa that we are stocking such idols, which are made of clay and painted with turmeric, ‘geroo’, and ‘multani mitti’,” says Nirmal Kulkarni of Earthworm. However, owing to rising costs of raw material, both clay and PoP idols will be costlier this year.