ORISSA, INDIA, November 28, 2002: Goldsmiths in Orissa who craft handmade pieces of jewelry from gold and silver are suffering a plight that may bring an end to their profession. Machine-made ornaments now dominate the marketplace and merchants are able to buy from these suppliers on credit. Trinath Sahoo, a traditional craftsman says, “Big jewelers hardly display handmade jewelry in shop windows these days. So even if one were willing to buy a nice handmade piece, one would not have the choice.” Many states such as Maharashtra and Kerala have placed restrictions on sale of machine-made jewelry. So far Orissa has done nothing to help the traditional craftsmen. Market sources say nearly ten thousand workers are facing the prospect of unemployment.
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