Mir Adil Hussain (55) is an expert at making agarbathi stands, walking sticks and key chains, which have all been displayed and sold at the famous Cauvery Emporium in Bangalore for over 30 years. But now his family has been running from pillar to post to make arrangements for his medical bills after he recently suffered a heart attack.
With no medical benefits or insurance provided to the artisans who toil hard to put up a display at the emporium, Mr. Hussain’s family has had to raise loans to pay for his treatment. His brother, Mir Shabbir Ali, who also worked in the emporium for 45 years, died of cancer this July.
“We spent Rs. 12 lakh on his hospital bills, but were neither reimbursed nor given compensation. A meagre Rs. 5,000 was offered as death compensation and that too two months after he died. There are no pension benefits either,” said Mir Hassan Ali, a family member.
The plight is the same for 140 artisans and their families whose works have impressed thousands of customers at the emporium managed by Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation (KSHDC).
Suresh Pushpangathan, whose father worked as an artisan for 25 years, had to wait till August this year to avail Rs. 5,000 compensation. His father had passed away in November 2013.
“Many artisans’ families are dependent on their work for their bread and butter. If the artisans’ licence or ID card is transferred to another member of their family, they can continue to work there. But, the transfer process just doesn’t progress despite providing all the paperwork,” said Mr. Pushpangathan.
Purushottam L, President of the Karnataka Sandalwood Artisans Association, said that these 140 artisans are treated as individual workers and not permanent employees. “It is a government undertaking and their ID cards are issued by the Small Scale Industries Department. They can work as long as their cards are renewed every year,” he said.
“About 20 acres of land had been allotted to the artisans in 1996 near Peenya by the State government, which had promised to build about 200 houses in a five acre plot, but is yet to deliver its promise.” he said.
However, KSHDC Managing Director G.S. Kariyappa said, “The corporation is not getting grants and is only a facilitator. According to Government of India guidelines, a separate nodal agency has been appointed for the welfare of artisans.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Vinayshree Jagadeesh / Bangalore – October 19th, 2014