Indo-Asian news Service
Kolkata: Narrow, murky lanes, leaking roofs, dingy houses and filth are daily companions for artisans of Kumartul who make Durga idols.
At the three-century-old potters' town in the northern part of Kolkata, the artisans toil day and night to make the idols of gods and goddesses. These very idols are at the centre of many celebrations and much merriment across the country, but for the artisans, life continues amid abysmal conditions.
A rehabilitation project announced by West Bengal more than three years ago has missed several deadlines and is yet to take off.
"The rehabilitation package has been stuck in the files for over four years. Nothing's been done so far for the Kumartuli artisans," Mintu Pal, general secretary of the Kumartuli Mrit Shilpi Association said.
For instance, the idols are made in sheds that are not concrete structures. And with leaking roofs in the rainy season, the job takes that much longer.
"Every year we have to brave incessant rain during the pre-puja season and for that we face a lot of trouble like late delivery of idols, high labour and raw material costs," said Pal.
The Kumartuli rehabilitation plan, worth Rs26 crore, is funded by the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission.
The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will implement the project, 35 per cent of its cost to be borne by the centre, 15 per cent by the state government, and the remaining 50 per cent to be raised through loans.
The KMDA will construct houses for the artisans over five acres of land at Kumartuli on the ground-plus-three-floor pattern. It will also build an art gallery for artisans to showcase their creations.