Kairali Emporium-SMSM Institute-Traditional artisans' arrears to be settled

Kairali Emporium-SMSM Institute-Traditional artisans' arrears to be settled

 The Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala under the State Industries and Commerce  Department has starved the traditional artisans when even the government welfare pensions were disbursed on a regular basis during the Covid period. Sales of handicrafts have come to a standstill as tourism and local celebrations have come to a halt. But the authorities are not even willing to hand over the amount of the sale. Minister EP Jayarajan needs to intervene to pay the amount immediately.

 The method of transaction is as follows

 The artist will receive a message within a month of the product being sold. The amount will be credited to the bank account within three months. So much has happened in the power of e-governance. By March 2020, Covid has upended the system. Sales were down. The amount of the sale was not paid to the artists. Emporium gave a little to those who were constantly coming into the office. Others are in distress.

Earlier system

Before e-governance, money was paid as cash from the office. The payment for the art work was received only when the artist went to office and bribed the accounts wing. Today that situation has changed. But the misery does not end there

Sales method

Kairali acts as an intermediary between artists and consumers. It takes double the amount of the products from the consumer. If artist gives a product for Rs five thousand ,Kairali sells it to the consumer for Rs. ten thousand with tax. That is, twice the actual price. Yet ,the firm delays the payment for 3 months minimum ?

 Solution

Kairali and SMS Institute are part of Kerala, a state of  strong e-governance.Institute can develop  a facility for an SMS to the artisan  at the time of sale. The next day the amount shall be transferred  to the bank account. The government should take the initiative to transform the Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala to such an artisan friendly system. At the same time, kairali can provide  the artisans'  address and contact number on the website, so that the artists can sell their products directly too.