Lac bangle makers marginalised

About 500 lac bangle karkhanas (workshops) thrive in Mitti Ka Sher and adjoining Talabkatta and Uttapalli in Hyderabad, each karkhana on average employing 15-20 people. The art of making bangles dates back almost 200 years but bangles remain an evergreen fashion accessory.

Bangle craftspersons, with women outnumbering men, are part of the unorganised sector, working at small units or within the confines of a house. With wages having remained constant for some time, some craftspersons have opted to become construction workers.

Each manufacturer sells bangles worth Rs 12-15 lakh a year — the bulk of them in local markets and up-country markets like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other cities.

 

Retailers sometimes provide raw materials including the lac, ornamental glass pieces, coal and the machinery needed to make the bangles and pay the workers a commission. Retailers make more profits than craftspersons. Stagnant income is one reason why some artisans have given up the craft in search of better livelihoods.

Efforts by non-government organisations to bring bangle artisans under a single roof to boost marketing have led to some improvement, but much remains to be done. “There is a need for better support to the artisans. A cluster approach will definitely help the sector in exploring new markets,” says second-generation bangle maker Roshan Ali, adding that the units work independently and scaling up is therefore difficult.