KARSTEN MIRANDA
karsten@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: In the face of rapid urbanization, the quaint workshops of carpenters from Benaulim still have that old-world charm and quintessentially Goan setting.
Veteran craftsmen are bustling around to their pressing deadlines and in the midst of all that, their grandchildren can be seen running around and getting first-hand knowledge of the intricacies of this age-old craft.
This is just another day in the life of traditional carpenters in Benaulim, which is home to a large chunk of Goa’s dwindling carpenter population.
This has been their way of life for generations now, but they face an uncertain future as the number of challenges has risen with no solutions in sight.
Sadly, one such problem is the complaints they receive about the location of their workshops themselves.
“From our forefathers to now, we have been working here for decades. Back then, there was open land near our places. Now buildings have come up and they expect us to shift. We were here first! Why should we move?” said a senior carpenter.
Incidentally, this issue is faced by other traditional communities like the bakers.
“Years ago, we had discussed this issue with the then Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar. We had placed our various demands but were told to shift to industrial estates,” said Joaquim Furtado, President of the All Goa Carpenters Association.
Furtado lamented that on the other hand, the 320-odd Goan carpenter families have not been provided with essential facilities by successive State governments.
For instance, they are unable to apply for schemes to repair or buy new machinery or even get much-needed 3-phase electrical connections for their workshops.
“There is also a shortage of sawmills. There’s just one that is by the government but it is located in Canacona. We can’t travel so far on a regular basis. It is not feasible,” Furtado added.
“The biggest problem we face is the amount of time it takes to get permission from the Forest Department to procure wood. Sometimes it takes as long as six months. Moreover, to get these licences for cutting trees, we have to make repeated trips to the government departments and then it goes to the panchayat. They have to streamline and speed up the process,” said Hanzel Fernandes, one of the youngest carpenters in Benaulim. And carpenters add that after they get all the licences they are harassed for cutting trees
The next stage in their professional lives is connectivity to the markets. Feasts and fairs are big opportunities to set up stalls and sell their wares. However, the very high rates for stalls are a big impediment to the carpenters.
The future, for traditional carpenters, looks bleak. “The government should at least see that there are some training courses with stipend. We need to ensure that our craft passes on as it faces the risk of dying out,”Fernandes sighed.
Their biggest competitor is the changing times and changing habits like ordering furniture online from big companies. But there’s little to beat the charm and the intricate work of local carpenters and to keep alive an ancient tradition of artistry.
