Potters seek govt assistance in Kurnool

Kurnool: The pottery profession has totally lost its glory for the last several years due to domination of plastic. In olden days, every household used to have pots made from clay. The potters, who belong to Kummari Shalivahana community, were having handful of work and fistful of earnings.

With the demand for plastic, the community members are leading miserable lives. In course of time, the clay made pots and utensils have vanished from the society. Plastic was replaced by the clay made articles thereby darkening the lives of potters.

Despite knowing that the earthen made pots are good for health, people are more inclined to use the plastic made materials. The history reveals that humans lived a healthy life by eating food cooked in the earthen pots.

Clay pots are very well known to be the poor man's fridge. During summer, everyone likes to drink water stored in the clay made pot. It not only quenches thirst but also revitalises all organs in the body.

The clay pots were replaced by the modern fridges of various brands. Still several villagers are earning daily bread by making clay pots and selling them for nominal prices. They hardly earn Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month. Kummari Narsaiah, a native of Allagadda town, who is still making clay pots said that there is every need to give preference to earthen articles as they are good for health.

"Consuming food in plastic made articles is hazardous to health. But the people are giving more priority to eye catching plastic material than the clay made utensils," he stated. He also said that with the domination of plastic in the market, the clay made articles have lost their sheen. He urged the State government to introduce pension scheme as is being extended to the weavers. Keeping public health in mind, the government should encourage profession of pottery, he pleaded.

AP Kummari Shalivahana Youth Association State president, KB Narsimha told The Hans India that the State has around 25 lakh Kummari population. On an average, every district has at least 2 lakh members of Kummari community, he said and demanded that the State government to accord patent rights to clay pots and utensils made by their community members.

He said that the association is planning to start a special campaign to educate people about the benefits of soil made materials. He urged the government to extend cooperation so that they can strengthen financially. Narsimha made an appeal to the government to conduct special training to their community members for setting up pottery making units in the State.