B4U India: A village of 'firecracker' women in West Bengal

A village of 'firecracker' women in West Bengal
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reuters india on 10 November, 2007 12:01:00
 
Women at a nondescript village in South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal have
earned a big reputation here by excelling in making firecrackers during Diwali,
the festival of lights.
Nungi Village is today popular for its fine quality crackers all around the
State. The fireworks prepared here have a high demand in different parts of the
country, especially on Diwali when people burst firecrackers and illuminate
earthen lamps at homes marking Lord Rama's homecoming to his kingdom in
Ayodhya.
Firework production has evolved as a cottage industry here offering employment
such a vast number of housewives and girls.
"Around 3,000 women are engaged. Of course, it is at a great risk but we do all
this for our family," said Sujata Das, one of the firework workers of Nungi
Village.
Everyone learns the art of preparing fireworks by the elder women of the
family.
However, after the ban in West Bengal on bursting firecrackers with loud sound,
the business has suffered a major setback but the women workers have kept the
tradition alive by focusing on making soundless or crackers of low intensity.
Crackers like "Chakri" ( a revolving cracker) and "Hawai" (rocket) are now the
most favourite crackers  produced here. Many people, however, complaint that
local police still harass individuals even if they buy low-intensity crackers.
It has affected the local business here.
"Prospective buyers are discouraged due to the fear of police nabbing them with
the fire crackers. Consequently, the sale of fire crackers in our state is
disappointing, as people hardly purchase them," Samiran Das, a shopkeeper of
the village.
"The small fire works like flower pots and sparklers made patiently by these
women supplement the meagre family income. So it is an income generating
activity," said Basudeb Das, the owner of a small production unit. (ANI)