Introduction
Haven Crafts is a social enterprise founded by Rakhi Jain to empower traditional artisans, especially in Odisha, by addressing their economic, health, and livelihood challenges. Through grassroots-level engagement, product innovation, training, and policy advocacy, Haven Crafts strives to give artisans the recognition, dignity, and safety they rightfully deserve.
Our field visits, interactions with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha and engagement with artisan clusters across Balasore, Khorda, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj have revealed a set of systemic challenges that are limiting the full potential of Odisha’s Stone crafts sector.
Baulagadia, a village located in Balasore district of Odisha, is home to a traditional community of stone carving artisans. Renowned for their skill in chiseling life into stone, these artisans carry forward a heritage that is both artistic and spiritual. However, behind their intricate creations lies a hidden crisis—silicosis, a fatal disease caused by continuous inhalation of stone dust.
Key Problems Identified by Haven Crafts
Field Interaction with Artisans
Haven Crafts team visited Baulagadia to interact directly with the artisan families. The field session included:
- Personal conversations with active artisans
- A look into unsafe working practices and tools
- Understanding the emotional and economic toll of occupational diseases
These interactions revealed a deeply rooted need for both policy intervention and technical solutions.
Challenges Identified
- Health Hazards: Artisans work without protective gear, leading to lung diseases like silicosis.
- Lack of Insurance: No access to life or health insurance schemes.
- Poor Infrastructure: Absence of dust-control mechanisms or wet grinding units.
- Neglected Voices: Artisan issues are often underreported and unsupported by systemic welfare.
Tribute to a Fallen Artisans
During the visit, Haven Crafts met with the family of a stone artisan who died due to silicosis. In a heartfelt moment, the family was felicitated to honor the artisan’s contribution. This ceremony was conducted in the presence of Hon’ble Nilagiri MLA, Mr. Santosh Khatua, Hon’ble Former Soro MLA, Mr. Parshuram Dhada and Assistant Director of Handicrafts, Mr. Kumar Marandi. Â
Their support highlighted the growing awareness of the issue and the need for collective action.
Engaging Government for Change
The Haven Crafts team submitted key concerns and recommendations to local officials. The delegation advocated for:
- Artisan welfare schemes under state and central missions
- Recognition of silicosis as an occupational hazard
- Inclusion of artisans in health coverage and compensation policies
Proposed Solutions by Haven Crafts
- Solar-Powered Wet Grinding Systems
- Dust Extraction Units at Workstations
- Silicosis Health Screening Camps
- Insurance Coverage & Artisan ID Enrollment
- Training in Safer Crafting Techniques
- Legal Support for Compensation Claims
Initiatives Started by Haven Crafts
- Conducted ground-level assessment in Baulagadia
- Partnered with Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha to amplify artisan voices
- Raised awareness through official channels and community platforms
- Launched pilot plans for solar-powered wet grinders
- Documented cases of affected artisans for follow-up support
- Mobilized local leadership to participate and commit to future action
Conclusion
The visit to Baulagadia stands as a reminder that beautiful heritage cannot be built on broken health. Haven Crafts remains committed to working with artisan communities, local leaders, and institutions to ensure a safe, sustainable, and dignified future for the hands that carve our culture.
Acknowledgments and Gratitude
Haven Crafts extends its heartfelt thanks to the Hon’ble MLA, Former MLA, and the Assistant Director of Handicrafts for their valuable presence, their sensitivity toward the issues raised, and their commitment to work toward the betterment of the artisan community. Their assurance and willingness to take forward the concerns discussed is a strong step toward institutional support and systemic change.
We also express our sincere gratitude to Odisha Shilpi Mahasangha for their exceptional efforts in organizing, mobilizing artisans, and coordinating the entire field visit and felicitation ceremony. Their dedication to artisan welfare and on-ground action made this initiative truly impactful.
Together, we move closer to a safer and more dignified future for Odisha’s traditional stone craftsmen.