SOS from GTOs Nandkumar Kamat Time is running out for Goa's traditional occupations (GTOs) which employ about 50000+ women. GTOs are part of our 'cultural genome'-the roots of our identity, Goan identity. GTOs need protection, local patronage and appreciation, rejuventation,fresh capital infusion, financial and technical support,insurance, price support, marketing support etc. But what is the current status?. Following are some examples:- 1. Poders (goa's traditional bakers) are barely surviving 2. Number of toddy tappers has fallen drastically and alarmingly 3. Number of Salt pans has been reduced to 30-40 from 200+ . Workers have to be transported from Karnataka to work at Merces, Siridao, Nerul... 4. Goan potters-this is probably the last generation! 5. Ramponkars, magkars, gabits, pagi-the repositories of wisdom from the sea-dwindling in numbers 6. Molekars, kamatkars, fulkars (traditional agro-horticulturists) without clear title to the land and influx of builders they face an uncertain future 7. Padelis (Goan coconut pluckers)-this art is dying. 8. Goan ironsmiths- a rare species now... 9. Kankanakars, pidduk-kars-the last generation 10. Fogeris- the Goan pyrotechnicians- only two families left 11. Perni jagor artists ( Goa's unique mask folk dance drama)- only five families left on earth since this form is not found anywhere else in India or abroad Can something be done for them?. At personal level I patronise only Goan bread, vinegar, stock local agarachem mith before the monsoon, buy locally made pots, spices, local fruits and vegetables, purchase locally fabricated choppers (koytas)...but there is competition, dumping of cheap products, aggressive publicity of cheap consumer items-so how our Goan traditional artisans and workers would survive?. The regional plan (so called RP-2021) mastered by town planners, architects and engineers is absolutely useless in understanding the complexity of relationship between land, natural resources and evolution of GTOs which maintained the economy of our 380 + villages despite political upheavals.
WE MUST NOT ALLOW OUR GTOS TO PERISH! Following article was published in My weekly (Monday) Column in The Navhind Times On March 8 The original link to my article would be found at http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinions/9477-women-in-traditional-occupations Nandkumar Kamat SAHITYA Akademi literary award winner Konkani short story writer and creator of masterpieces such as Adrisht, Aranyakand, Kali Ganga, Khol Khol Mulamthe former Indian army soldier, Mahabaleshwar Sail wrote a path-breaking Konkani novel Havthan in 2009 on the economic, social, cultural and ecological tragedy of the potter (kumbhar) community in Kali River basin. It leaves you speechless at the end. We silently empathise with hard working female characters. Havthan tells you how globalisation is impacting the traditional artisanship in Konkan. The potters curse the entry of cheap and durable plastic and metalware in the market. The women are an integral and intimate part of the potters production and marketing cycle. The novel raises several questions about the fate of all the traditional occupations in general and the plight of women artisans in particular. The negative side of globalisation is the gradual extinction of traditional occupations. In a few exceptional cases globalisation has also seen the revival of traditional skill sets and better markets for traditional goods and services. But very little money trickles down to the actual workers or artisans. Extinction of traditional occupations means a direct impact on women workers. New Welfare Scheme: All over the world sensitive democratic societies are taking steps to protect workers in their traditional occupations. I am determined to protect and support all the workers and artisans in Goas traditional occupations, the CM, Mr Digambar Kamat told me on several occasions whenever I had reminded him about a detailed note sent to him on May 28, 2009, on the eve of Goas statehood dayto launch a new welfare scheme calledRegistration, conservation, protection and promotion of traditional occupations and other sustainable micro-enterprises of Goa. The government had provided Rs 2 crore under the Social Welfare Department in the 2009-10 budget. But the scheme could not take off. The detailed note which I had sent did not reach the department. The government was interested in identification of traditional occupations in Goa and held multi-stakeholder meetings to understand their immediate and long term needs. After an official meeting at the CMs residence on January 25, I agreed to chair a 30-member task force committee to begin the work for the new, comprehensive welfare scheme. The work of the TFC may begin this week. Goas Traditional Occupations: I define Goas traditional occupations as those which use age-old skill sets, traditional knowledge, simple tools, techniques and home-grown technologies and have been in vogue as an integral part of Goas village and market economy for centuries. The skill sets and knowledge is transmitted from generation to generation without any external aid/agency/patronage/subsidies. Some of these occupations are now on the verge of extinction. Traditional micro-enterprises in Goa can be identified on the basis of self-employment, low capital, seasonal nature and small economies of scale. We can identify Goas traditional occupations sectorwise. This is just an indicative list. In the primary sector we have traditional marginal horticulturists, floriculturists, garland makers, local flower sellers, toddy tappers, local salt producers, rope and broom makers, basket weavers, bamboo craftsmen, traditional herbalists, vaizins, vokhadakanns (tribal medicine practioners). In the secondary sector, we have Goas bakers and confectioners, village sculptors, idols, tableau (par) makers, producers of ethno-musical instruments, domestic and cottage level food processors (papads, pickles, preserves etc) using local knowledge, village sweetmeat makers such as khazekars, gram sellers/chanekars, fogeris (fireworks specialists or local pyrotechnicians), home made vinegar, cottage level wine producers, small scale distillers of feni, local candle makers, local weavers, small scale tailors, ethnic costume designers, kakonkars, piddukkars, local toy makers. While in the tertiary sector we have local carpenters, masons (gavandis/thavais), painters (rangaris and chitaris), local barbers/hair stylists, local modvals/laundry operators, skilled workers with knowledge of Khazan bundh repair and sluice gate designers especially from ST Gavade community, acharis/cooks/small caterers of local food, poddekars (curtain painters, stagecraft), small time local event organisers (village zatras/feasts, tiatras), padelis (coconut pluckers), bhadels (headload carriers), bhagelis (orchard workers), gorva rakhane and many others. Plight of Women: Nobody has noticed the plight of the women in some of these occupations. Under uncomfortable and risky conditions, in environments full of flour dust, women from poder families sell Goas bread, there are others engaged in drying and salting fish and production of papads, pickles and sausages. In the temple belt hundreds of women earn income for their families by selling seasonal flowers and garlands. Thousands of Goan female farm labourers toil in the sun and rain to prepare seed beds, transplant seedlings, maintain vegetable plots, irrigate crops, harvest the produce and preserve the grains. Cashew plantations are tended by women. The males devote themselves to fermentation and distillation. Business of Goan pottery, bamboo and canecraft is not possible without women. Women make some of the finest brooms and baskets. Goa may be the only place in India where women tend counters of typical bars or taverns despite an insecure social environment. Before the Panaji fish market closes at night, I find some women who sell fish, cleaning the same when the customers are not around. This portion is for my family. I have to go home and cook dinner, they say. Their drudgery is endless. Your heart goes out to the widows past 70-80 years still trying to find a decent source of income. I have some respect because I can still work and earn some income, they say. But I am touched by the sadness in their eyes. Actually they deserve some rest, some recreation, some comfort and relief as senior citizens. But this is Goas unorganised sector. There is a tremendous hype in the name of womens empowerment. But thousands of women in unorganised traditional occupations of Goa have not really told their stories. In Margao, a small number of traditional female head load carriers-bhadels would be found. We really dont expect them to carry on with this back-breaking service. Their skill sets can be improved and they can be rehabilitated. Women were always the traditional repositories of herbal medicinal knowledge. But without a well thought out scheme their ethno-pharmacopoeia knowledge, their skills of diagnosis, treatment and healing would be lost forever. Participation rate of women in Goas traditional occupations has not been really captured in different decennial censuses. But my estimate is that more than fifty thousand women depend on the traditional occupations. With public support it would be my endeavour to recommend a better deal for them in the report of our TFC. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
