The traditional clay Ganesh Idol makers from Sattari, who are making idols for the past four decades, are demanding the Goa government to increase the subsidy for making clay idols. They claim the mud which they buy from the neighbouring states is become costlier and likewise the colour.
At present the artisans get a subsidy of Rs 100 per idol per year, subject to a maximum amount of Rs. 15,000 per artisan as per predefined criteria. This scheme is implemented through Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation.
In rural areas, we cannot increase the price of Ganesh Idols, which is around Rs 500-800 per idol. The villagers from remote areas normally bargain and try to get the idols for lesser amount. Since we are getting just Rs 100 as a subsidy we are demanding that it be increased to at least Rs 400 for artisans from rural areas,” says Anand Gaonkar, a Ganesh Idol maker.
“I am making Ganesh Idols for the past 40 years, in my village Dabose. Now I am selling one idol for Rs 500, the price of which is often bargained by the villagers. However, the same idol is sold for Rs 5,000 in Sankhali, Bicholim or Mapusa. Taking into account the expensive mud we buy from Maharashtra and the good quality colour, we are not making any profit from these mud idols,” says Tulshidas Gaonkar, a clay idol maker.
The mud from Goa, which we were using earlier to make Ganesh Idols is no longer good because it contains tiny stones which make the idols develop cracks. So I stopped using Goan mud and am buying mud from Maharashtra for the past 12 years. They charge Rs 10,000 for one truck, plus with transport and other charges it is no longer feasible for us to make clay idols, says Mahadev Gaonkar, Idol maker from Velus village.
