HOLDING HANDS (DHORO HAATH) in East Singhbhum

Our concern is to revive, preserve and promote the livelihood of the hitherto invisible tribal / traditional artistes and artisans – many  of whom are marginal farmers or agricultural labourers or  migrant / daily wage earners – thereby earning their livelihood and our Intangible Cultural Heritage. These practices and traditions give them an identity and a space in the mainstream milieu. These tribal artistes and artisans (musicians, dancers, mask makers, painters, potters, metal workers, grass mat weavers), living in poverty and neglect, are striving to sustain their respective art forms in spite of the daily challenges of a cash-strapped existence.

Kalamandir has identified a total of 497 core artisan families in the Chotanagpur region of Jharkhand: Potka, Dumaria, Dhalbumgarh, Ghatsiala, Patamda, Bahragora, Seraikela, Kharsawan, Ichagarh,  –who are not considered at a macro level by Government, as our primary stakeholders. There are few thousands more beyond our canvas.

 The present scenario of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent Lockdown has aggravated their socio economic condition drastically by bringing a sudden halt to their meagre livelihood. Our immediate concern is to hand- hold them through this crisis by providing quick relief in the form of rations and some cash for exigencies.

While planning for livelihood opportunities of the tribal and traditional artistes and artisans we focussed  on multiple development strategies towards a holistic growth through connections to the natural world, the community and humanitarian values.

The eco system include a larger community of tribal and indegenous families living in forest and forest fringe villages largely depending on Minor Forest Produces. The development programme as envisaged has to have a concern for environmental sustainability:

·       Rural and Heritage Tourism

·       Water and Soil Conservation

·       Participation in Festivals, Fairs and Exhibitions for promotion of handicrafts and cultural performances.

·       Running retail outlet Biponi by Kalamandir Saksham SHG Federation at Jamshedpur for the sale and promotion of eco-friendly sustainable

handicrafts Design workshops for artisans

·        Workshops on social aberrations, eg. Witch-hunting, Dowry, Wife-beating, alcoholism to sensitize field workers and thereby, the larger community.

·       Documentation of oral traditions

·       Medhavani programme for tutoring/grooming meritorious tribal girl children

The above on-going projects and programmes are being conducted in collaboration with Govt. Schemes and some corporate resources.

The Covid-19 situation and subsequent lockdown has put on hold all these means of livelihood and left the artisans staring at an uncertain future, mass unemployment, zero earnings in sales/presentation/ performances and related activity – in short, hunger and starvation. Kalamandir and Team are seeking to devise alternative means of survival in a fast changing socio-economic scenario. 

To combat the Covid-19 situation and Lockdown, Kalamandir and Team have strategized a two-pronged approach:

1.  Short-term goal: to hand-hold our primary stakeholders and associates through relief distribution of food rations, sanitary kits, milk and Horlicks to infants, children and lactating mothers; awareness for prevention of Covid-19 virus as well as social distancing, books and stationery for children/students, cash for fuel and exigencies.

2.  Long-term goals: To devise alternative livelihood strategies by deploying the existing skills and traditional knowledge of the artistes and artisanswith a scientific input of the market demands of a changing socio-economic environment and social order under threat of the Covid-19 pandemic:

·       Traditional mask-makers can creatively make functional masks while adhering to regulatory standards and approval to meet the rising local, domestic and global demand for reusable, sustainable masks.

·       With the focus on healthcare and immunity-building, organic farming and marketing of fruits and vegetables is a distinct possibility in livelihood opportunities in the agricultural sector. Seeds, manure, expertise, adequate water supply needs to be facilitated.

·       Artistes, musicians and painters can assist in social awareness programmes and value-added entertainment through their modified performances.