A Collective Bargaining of Artisans: A Case Study of the Manamadurai Pottery Workers Cooperative Cottage Industrial Society Ltd., Tamil Nadu Dr.C.Pitchai
Mahatma said I understood to be that a life of labour i.e. the life of the tiller of the soil and the handicraftsman is the worth living (Gandhi, 1964).
Why Pottery Industry?????? Ø Government cannot provide employment to every people. Ø It is not possible for everyone to start medium or large industries because of investment and need of resources. ØBut this industry provides employment to millions of artisans from rural and semi rural. (Suneja, R.C, 1982). ØIt utilizes the locally available resource (raw materials). (Yojana, 2006) ØSimple Technology, less energy consumption. ØNon Pollution and environmental friendly. ØEconomic independent.
ØIt helps in the expansion of the small scale and cottage industries in the country (Chand, 2010). ØThese industries ensure a harmonious balance between small, medium and large industries (L.Radhakrishnan, 2009). ØCottage industries generate democray, freedom, and socioeconomic development in the country (Saklani, 2010). Ø It helps the artisans to earn good income in the rural areas (Commerece, 2004), (Aslam, 2011). ØArtisans may be engaged in work on part time basis (Hashna, 2013). ØThis industry gives self esteem, self-sufficiency and self- reliance to artisans.
Research Problem Ø But the gaps found are focused in this study and chosen one of the dying craft i.e., pottery. Ø The ancient craft and one of the first known craft of human beings were taken for this research. Pottery is one of the traditional craft, which has to be given more importance, but it is not given due weight age. Ø Slowly, few artisans migrate to the nearly cities in search of new job. Hence, an attempt has been made in this area to find out whether the socialization or organization of artisans can reduce the poverty and prosper the lives of the pottery artisans.
Objectives of the study ØTo study the functioning of the Manamadurai Pottery Workers Cooperative Cottage Industrial Society Ltd. ØTo identify the demographic, socio-economic profiles and the entrepreneurial skills of the pottery artisans in the selected cooperative. ØTo understand the collective bargaining of the cooperative society in achieving the welfare of the artisans.
Profile of the Artisans in Manamadurai With a view to develop the socio-economic conditions of the pottery artisans at Manamadurai, a cooperative society was registered in the year 1946 as The Manamadurai Pottery Workers Cooperative Cottage Industrial Society Ltd. K.V.I. PMK No-36. In Sivagangai District, a famous place known for pottery is Manamadurai. The pottery of Manamadurai is popular because of its unique quality of clay from water bodies (Kanmais) like Nedunkulam, Nathapurakki, Sundaranadappu, and Seikalathur. Red clay kitchen set, karthigai lamps, pots of pam, hereditary pots, and water pots, garden pots, firewood ovens, saw dust ovens, maga chools, nursery pots, dhoop stand, and decorative red clay pottery ware are the products produced in Manamadurai. But these artisans are struggling for raw material. The clay is not available or allowed always for lifting and more importantly dearth of money for cart, labour etc.
The main functions of the society are to purchase the finished pottery products from the members and sell them in the local market and places like Coimbatore, Tirchy, Erode, Salem, Karaikal, Madurai and Chennai. Sometimes, few items are exported to Malaysia and Gulf Countries (Asokan. 2002). More importantly arranging raw materials to the members regularly so as to provide continues work. This cooperative society provides benefits directly by generating employment approximately to 120 artisan families and indirectly to 185 private potter s families in and around Manamadurai. The society has been encouraging and supporting the artisans by providing credit, purchase crafts, help in marketing, technical guidance, training and technology upgradation, etc.
Performance of the Manamadurai Pottery Workers Cooperative Society ØEconomic development of the potters of Manamadurai was achieved only after the formation of Manamadurai Pottery Workers Cooperative Society. As per the annual report, the share capital of the society was Rs 30,630. ØThe own land used by the society is about two hectares. ØThey have their own finished goods godown, work shed, clamp kiln, pug mill, wire cut bricks and tiles with 25 HP motor, electrically operated potter s wheels etc. ØThe pottery workers cooperative produces/ procures from members Rs.40 lakhs worth of pottery products and make sale for Rs.46 lakhs during 2016-17. Ø It was found that the demand for the pottery items is increasing every year, when it was compared for the past five year s data. Moreover, the profit was around Rs.3 lakhs during the same period. Ø Once a loss making society, made profit continuously for the past few years. The main reasons are the society made the members to produce demand based pottery items by providing training through collective bargaining.
DETAILS OF RESPONDENT S ON POTTERY INCOME (MONTHLY) S. No Annual Income (Rs.) Respondents of Manamadurai Percentage 1. Below 5000 40 33.33 S. No Annual Income Respondents Percentage 2. (Rs.) of 5000 10000 30 Manamadurai 25.00 1. Below 5000 40 33.33 3. 2. 100005000 15000 10000 30 30 25.00 25.00 3. 10000 15000 30 25.00 4. 4. 15000 20000 20 16.67 15000 20000 20 5. Above 20000 - - 16.67 Total 120 100 5. Above 20000 - - Total 120 100
Opinion of artisans about time of work S.No Factors Opinion Regular Occasionally Rarely Never Total 1. Anticipating the demand 80 20 10 10 120 2. Based on Receiving the orders 100 10 10-120 3. Festival/Functions 120 - - - 120 4. Availability of raw materials 100 20 - - 120 5. Export - - 10 110 120 6. Seasonal 120 - - - 120
DETAILS ON THE TECHNICAL SKILLS OF THE ARTISANS S.No Technical Skills SA A CD D SD Intensi ty +2 +1 0-1 -2 Value 1. Communication 64 22 8 6 5 534 1 2. Monitoring 55 19 20 15 11 235 6 Environment 3. Technical 58 32 14 11 5 372 3 Management 4. Technology 47 40 20 10 3 231 7 5. Organization Ability 57 30 20 10 3 149 8 6. Listening 61 46 0 17 11 129 9 7. Network Building 63 26 0 21 10 456 2 8. Management Style 60 30 17 10 3 254 4 9. Interpersonal 45 30 27 10 8 249 5 Ran k
Details of Artisans skill on Business Management S.N o Business ManagementS kill has resulted in SA +2 A +1 CD 0 D -1 SD -2 Intens ity Value 1. Planning/Goal 68 22 20 10 0 296 5 Setting 2. Human 75 14 13 14 5 328 4 Relationship 3. Marketing 85 10 10 15 0 461 2 4. Finance 80 15 15 10 0 450 3 5. Accounting 90 10 9 6 5 534 1 6. Management 62 15 5 28 10 256 8 7. Negotiation 53 20 10 25 12 261 7 8. Venture Launch Ran k 65 15 0 28 12 293 6
OPINIONS REGARDING PERSONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL S.N o Personal Entrepreneuria l Skill has resulted in SA +2 SKILLS A +1 CD 0 D -1 SD -2 Intensi ty Value 1. Disciplined 60 25 15 20 0 298 5 2. Risk Taker 80 20 8 6 6 536 1 3. Innovator 75 32 0 13 0 461 2 4. Change Oriented 70 30 10 10 0 450 3 5. Persistent 65 30 15 5 5 328 4 6. Ability to Manage change Ran k 60 23 15 10 12 256 6 Primary data
Success of Manamadurai pottery Cooperatives Pottery Artisans are Members Elected Leaders Socio-Economic Development of Members Controlled Marketing Activities
Collective Bargaining Methods of Manamadurai pottery Cooperatives Transpare ncy and Democrac y Solving the problems of Raw Material, Finance and Branding (With the support of Government) Youth participation Technology support (With the support of Government and NGO s) Training and Development (With the support of Government and NGO s) Promote and protect the interest of the members
Activities that are provided to the artisans in the cooperatives through Collective Bargaining. Ø With the support of the Governments, proper survey of the artisans on their speciality, financial support, Ø Production and marketing, Ø Training on new product development and research for information in export, Ø Political support to get GI factor, Ø Frequent visit to other states to witness the artisans work and practice and also exchange of ideas, Ø Culture and tradition may be carried out. Ø Educating younger generation artisans through craft institution, craft training, and technological improvement can help them in starting new venture and motivate them to become an entrepreneur, this will be a yeoman service to the pottery artisans. Ø Coupled with the entrepreneurial skills and the support of the cooperatives members collective bargaining,
Conclusion ØThe pottery artisans, particularly in the State of Tamil Nadu, even though reside in different places, they are related. ØThe artisans in Manamadurai are united and formed a cooperative society for fulfilling their needs, right from raw material to marketing and development of new product etc. ØThe surplus earned comes back to them in the form of dividend. Hence, the members of the cooperatives do not find any problem when compared to Villacherry artisans of Madurai. ØThe socio and economic development out of these members, one could witness the cooperative society members better than the others. ØIt is timely, that the artisans join or organise a formal institutions to safe guard themselves and give a scope for the young persons to take up the traditional pottery artisan work.