Vanishing hopes of earthen pot traders

Tirupati: Despite the onset of summer, none of the earthen pot sellers are happy with their business this year. The seven shops, which have been in the business of selling earthen pots for 25 years, continue to sell earthen pots at last year's price. Even though they have been in this business for a long time, their financial position has not improved. Though the prices of essential commodities were skyrocketing, there was no improvement in the prices of earthen pots. Despite the fact that there was no profit with this business they are still stuck to this because they don't have alternative ways for survival. Sakunthalamma, who has been selling earthen pots for the last 25 years, encouraged her son to be self-employed. Another pot seller, Kavamma, got her son educated to become an engineer. Other than this, they were unable to earn profits from their trade. Moreover, every month they were forced to pay a penalty in the court as the police slapped cases against them on the charges of encroachment of the footpaths and creating traffic problems. Gopal, who has been selling earthen pots for 15 years, said that all these pots are being brought from Palampalli in Kadapa district and Kothapeta in Chittoor district. They were paying about Rs. 60 for each pot to the pot makers and were spending Rs. 6,000 towards transportation, he said. With refrigerators and deep freezers becoming common, sales of earthen pots had fallen drastically, he said. Gopal said that a few welfare associations, schools and politicians were buying earthen pots from them during summer to set up Chalivendram. Though business was dull this year, a 20 litre capacity pot was being sold for Rs 100. He said that a few upper middle class families were buying traditional earthen stoves, terracota decorated articles and earthen lamps for Deepavali. A He said that the cost of renting warehouses had gone up considerably and their profits were shrinking. Gopal said that his sons were not interested in this business, because of low response. Wherever a death takes place, members of those families come here to buy new small earthen pots to perform the last rites, he said.