The Wuhan Coronavirus has not just harmed the health of lakhs but also businesses across the world. With lockdown in force to contain the pandemic, the sculptors of Puri are having a very tough time because of no tourism. They say that their existence is at stake and they are hoping for the situation to ease soon.
Quoting the Secretary of Sudarshan Art and Crafts Village, Rabi Sahu, ANI reported, “All businesses, especially handicrafts has been suffering a great loss from the last three months. The handicraft workers’ lives are at stake since then. They are in a very difficult situation”.
He further added “The handicraft artists are in great trouble as they are not in a situation to buy raw materials required for the handicrafts. There are more than 5 lakh artisans who are working from all over Odisha state in various sectors. Many of them live in the village and are not partnered with any business. These artisans are completely dependent on the towns and cities and indirectly on tourism”.
Other artisans have also stated that it has become a very difficult thing for them to earn themselves a livelihood. They also continued that they never had to face such a situation before even during their forefather’s lives.