It appears bright days are ahead for Bidriware artisans and the craft.
The Export Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has identified Bidriware as having high export potential and is chalking out plans to increase its overseas market potential.
The bank will identify clusters of craftsmen, help them improve designs, find buyers, establish producer-buyer networks, watch the market and provide feedback to artisans.
In the initial stage, the bank is organising artisans in Bidar into clusters and training them to develop and diversify designs. In the next phase, the bank plans to establish linkages with traders, retail chains and art groups that collect and trade handicrafts.
‘Huge overseas market'
“Bidriware has a huge international market. The challenges lie in establishing linkages,” Deputy General Manager of the bank Deepali Agarwal, who was here to launch the training programme for artisans, told The Hindu .
According to her, bank officials will be involved in various stages of production and marketing of Bidriware. Officials will ensure that export orders are created through the bank's overseas offices.
“We will organise buyer-seller meetings, and take artisans for exposure trips outside the country,” she said.
Officials would also study market trends to observe which designs sell and which don't. This data would be analysed and artisans would be provided valuable feedback on what changes they need to make in their designs and patterns. Officials would also follow up on whether the buyer has made timely payments, she said.
“We recognise that there are problems in marketing and export of Bidriware. We are trying to put systems and processes in place to find specific and long-ranging solutions to these problems,” Ms. Agarawal said.
According to her, the bank plans to set up a common facility for artisans to work and exchange ideas.
Automated tools
S.V. Mataladinni, Assistant Director of Visvesvaraya Industrial Trade Centre (VITC), said the centre would help artisans use automated tools to create Bidriware. Machines for cutting and inlay work were available at affordable rates. Artisans could improve their output and profits by using such machines. The VITC would help them get information about such tools, he said.
M. Pranesh, who heads the EXIM Bank's regional operations, said they would explore the possibility of creating a system where artisans could sell their wares online.
‘Rising cost of items'
Resource persons from the National Institute of Design interacted with artisans at the Sahakari Rural Development Academy in Bidar at the design sensitisation workshop. They found out that sale of Bidriware items was hit due to rising cost of the items after silver and zinc prices soared.
Designers Pratima Khadke and Nilesh Misal spoke on the need to reduce costs by decreasing the amount of silver and zinc in each piece. They showed them computer generated designs that were cheaper and easy to make. Designers Bhavin Kothari and Miloni Patel spoke about the need to focus on the utility value of Bidriware, Mr. Pranesh said.
General Manager of EXIM Bank Prahalathan Iyer urged the artisans to introduce innovative designs to ensure better sales.
“A handicraft item will remain a showpiece and will not be used. However, if we make stationary material, office equipment such as penholders, paper weights, enveloper openers and clips, people will find them useful. This will increase sales and add to profits,” he had said.
Over 60 artisans attended the workshop. Rahim Khan, MLA, and the former MLA and president of the Bidar Bidri Youth Mandal were present.
