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Rohan Naik, Sindhudurg: With just a month left for Ganeshotsav, the number of Ganesh idols in schools in Konkan has increased rapidly. However, this year, the Ganesh idol business has found itself in a major financial crisis due to petrol-diesel price hike, transportation costs, shadu clay, paint, labor and electricity problems. As a result, the price of Ganesh idols has increased significantly this year and Ganesh devotees will have to spend more to buy Bappa’s idol.

Making Ganesh idols is a generational business of many families in Sindhudurg district. Although the new generation is also preserving this tradition, the sculptors have faced financial difficulties as the production cost is constantly increasing. Earlier, idols were made at low cost using local clay. However, in the last few years, the use of shadu clay and plaster of Paris (POP) has increased and their cost has also increased significantly. Apart from this, since the molds required to make idols have to be brought from outside, there has also been a huge increase in transportation costs.

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Sculptor Shankar Patkar said that the cost of raw materials, transportation and painting has increased so much that it has become difficult to calculate the financial calculations of making idols.

On the other hand, sculptors in Sindhudurg district are also being hit hard by the frequent power outages of Mahavitaran. There is no electricity while finishing and painting the idols, which is causing obstacles in work. Sculptor Sushant Sawant complained that both time and cost are increasing.

The sculptors have raised another important issue. In the state of Goa, sculptors are given a subsidy of Rs 200 per foot of idol, but sculptors in Maharashtra, especially Konkan, are unhappy that they are not getting the benefit of any such financial scheme.

Sculptor Krishna Chavan said that the cost of transportation has increased significantly due to the increase in fuel prices. In addition, the cost of painting, raw materials and the wages of artisans have increased, so the prices of small Ganesh idols have also reached around Rs 2,500.

Overall, the Ganesh idol business in Konkan has been hit the hardest by inflation this year, and it seems that its impact will directly affect the pockets of Ganesh devotees.

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