Don’t penalise village artisans amid PoP curbs: GCCI to govt

Panaji: While backing govt’s initiative to curb the sale of plaster of paris (PoP) Ganesh idols, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said that local artisans will find it difficult to comply with the registration and procedural requirements.

GCCI said limited internet access, lack of digital literacy and lack of technical knowledge will make it difficult for artisans to complete online registration on the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) portal.

GCCI president Pratima Dhond wrote to the department of environment and climate change and the directorate of industries, trade and commerce, drawing attention to the hardships. She said the regulations, while being in the larger public and environmental interest, should target only those making PoP idols and not local artisans.

“While the intention of the circular is to prevent manufacture and sale of PoP idols, traditional clay idol makers should not suffer from the closure of business, sealing of premises, penalties or other coercive action,” said Dhond.

She added that a mechanism should be created at panchayat or municipal level to assist the artisans in registration on the GSPCB portal. “A simplified registration procedure may be evolved for small traditional artisans and family-run chitrashalas,” she said.