Recognition eludes cracker industry of Padampur

SALEPUR: Padampur, Orissa’s Sivakasi, and its neighbouring villages are yet again crowded with people. With Diwali just a day away, people from nearby areas are thronging the villages of Trilochanpur, Mahajanpur, Purbakachha, Madhyakachha, Hatikana, Champati, Bahadalpatna and Jangapatna under Salepur block for crackers.Cracker manufacturing is  a century-old tradition in Padampur and was started by one Ismail Khan who taught the technique to Sachidananda Mohanty, Nanda Swain and Gandharba Swain. Every year, around 3,000 people of 500 families, belonging to both the Hindu and the Muslim communities prepare crackers.In Padampur, it’s largely the unorganised labour which is involved in preparing crackers. This cottage industry is yet to get recognition from the State Government. This is despite the fact that almost every household in the village has been into the business for several years. The dedication to manufacture reflects in the fact that every member of the family, including children contribute their mite. Being a seasonal occupation most of the children skip school from Ganesh puja to help their family members churn out more and more crackers. Children also sell the crackers on roadsides between Padampur and Paga-Bahugram here.As per reports, over 30 crore ‘talafatkas’ were manufactured in these villages before the 1999 super-cyclone and transported to different parts of the State and outside. After the natural calamity, availability of raw materials like palm leaves, wood of Calotropis plant reduced, thereby affecting production of crackers. Since the calamity, the profit margin of the business here has dipped from ` 20 crore to just ` 5 crore. Besides, middlemen and businessmen ate into their profits. These middlemen buy the crackers from villagers at cheaper prices and sell the same in open market at much high prices. This year, the ‘talafatka’ business is estimated to be over ` 25 crore.Villagers lamented that despite cracker manufacturing business taking a shape of cottage industry here, no efforts have been made to ensure safety of the manufacturers.“In the last 10 years, as many as nine persons have died and more than 10 persons injured in explosions while preparing crackers,” said Karim.Locals have been demanding cottage industry status for the cracker-making units and a fire station in the area. The demands, however, seem to have fallen on deaf ears.