Shocking Painful 200: Kolkata’s cultural heartbeat, Kumartuli, faced a major jolt this week as civic authorities launched large-scale raids on artisans’ hubs to crack down on banned thermocol items. Over 200 thermocol-based decorative products, primarily used during Durga Puja idol-making and other festivals, were seized, leaving artisans shocked and distressed. The raids were part of the government’s larger campaign to enforce the ban on single-use plastics and thermocol products, citing environmental hazards and non-biodegradability. For the artisans, however, this sudden move came like a blow, as many had already invested heavily in raw materials ahead of the festive season.
The crackdown exposed a long-standing tension between environmental policies and the livelihoods of traditional workers. While thermocol is banned due to its harmful effects on water bodies and soil, artisans argue that no affordable or equally effective alternatives have been provided. Kumartuli’s famed idol makers, who already struggle with rising costs of clay, bamboo, and paints, now fear further financial instability. For small-scale artisans, thermocol is not just a material but an affordable option for creating decorative backdrops, frames, and accessories that buyers demand. Without viable substitutes, many claim they may not survive this festival season.
The raids also brought into focus the lack of proper awareness campaigns. Many artisans, particularly those in smaller workshops, admitted they were unaware of the strict enforcement starting this month. According to officials, repeated warnings had been issued, but the reality on the ground paints a different picture. For the artisans of Kumartuli, who are seen as custodians of Bengal’s festive traditions, this clash between sustainability and survival has become deeply unsettling.
Livelihood at Stake: Artisans Caught Between Law and Tradition
For Kumartuli’s artisans, idol-making is not just an occupation—it’s a heritage passed down generations. Families that have sustained themselves for decades through craftsmanship now feel their survival is under threat. Many of them expressed anguish, saying that the sudden enforcement of the thermocol ban, without introducing proper substitutes, will directly affect thousands of workers, decorators, and vendors linked to the industry. In the coming Durga Puja season, demand for decorative items will rise sharply, and artisans fear losing contracts to machine-made alternatives from outside Bengal.
On the other hand, officials remain firm that the ban is non-negotiable. The use of thermocol and plastics during festivals generates tons of waste that ultimately choke Kolkata’s drainage system and pollute rivers like the Hooghly. Civic bodies argue that artisans must shift towards sustainable practices such as using cloth, jute, bamboo, and paper-mâché. Some NGOs have stepped in to conduct workshops and train artisans in eco-friendly materials, but the outreach is far from sufficient. Experts believe that unless a structured rehabilitation plan is rolled out—such as subsidies for eco-friendly raw materials or skill-building initiatives—the enforcement will end up hurting both tradition and the environment.
Shocking Painful 200: A Call for Balanced Policy
The Kumartuli raids highlight the urgent need for a middle path. Environmental sustainability cannot be compromised, but neither can the livelihoods of thousands of artisans who carry Bengal’s cultural identity. Activists suggest a phased approach where artisans are given at least two years to transition fully to alternatives, supported by government-backed supply chains. Without such a balance, the ban could alienate the very community that has preserved Kolkata’s festive grandeur for centuries.
For now, uncertainty looms over the narrow lanes of Kumartuli. With the biggest festival season just weeks away, artisans are left to wonder if their craft can withstand this latest blow, or if tradition itself will be forced to yield under the weight of changing laws.
🔗 External References:
- Central Pollution Control Board – Guidelines on Plastic Ban
- West Bengal Pollution Control Board
- UNEP Report on Plastic Pollution
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