Toy-makers eye African, West Asian market

Varanasi, July 26 (UNI) Failing to expand in the US and Europe, local wooden toy-makers are now eyeing the unexplored markets of Africa and West Asia, through new generation 'beyblades' and puzzles.

The Society for Promotion of Textiles and Handicrafts (SPOTH)-- an NGO -- has commisioned the services of a Delhi-based designer to train wooden toy-making units in crafting new generation toys based on contemporary designs.

A 10-day Design and Development Workshop jointly organised by SPOTH and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) kicked off here on Monday.

Delhi-based designer T M Tripathi, specialising in handicrafts, has started training over 30 wooden toy-making families in making new generation toys like beyblades, puzzles, painting blocks, masks and Chinese chequers, to not only revive the industry's flagging fortunes in the US and Europe, but also cut a swathe in the hitherto unexplored markets of Africa and West Asia.

''The artisans will be trained in making toys in new shapes and sizes based on contemporary designs. The time has come when the artisans crafting wooden toys in Khojwan, Kashmiriganj and Chiraiya localities of the city, for the last three centuries, pulled up their socks to switch over from old horses and elephants to new generation beyblades,'' Mr Tripathi added.

SPOTH Chairman P C Mishra, highlighting the need for switching over to new generation toys said that for staying globally competitive the toy-makers in Varanasi, like those from Saharanpur, needed to change with times.

''They should not stop making old-shaped horses and elephants, still in demand in the US, but also start making new generation toys to foray into more profitable African and West Asian markets, besides improving their position in Europe,'' he added.

The designer further said the toy-makers will also be trained in packaging and presentation skills, besides offensive marketing strategies with the help of SPOTH and FICCI.

Mr Mishra informed of the plans of joining hands with international organisations like DFID and UNCTAD to organise fairs abroad as part of aggressive marketing strategy to resusticate the crippling industry.

The representative of the toy-makers, Kumar Kartikeya, Chief of Khilauna Udyog Sahkari Samiti Ltd, an umbrella group of toy-making families, welcoming the shift to new generation toys, said that merely changing with times will not help the toy-makers revive their fortunes globally.

''Proper financial support, regular electric supply, besides lifting ban on the cutting of Koraiyya wood in abundance in East Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was essential for reinvigorating the industry, whose export revenue had nosedived from Rs two crore in 1980 to Rs 30 lakh now,'' Mr Kartikeya maintained.

''The toy-makers, only 2,000 now, were forced to carve the kid companions from the Eucalyptus wood, which was moist and hence made the toys crack up after drying. The Koraiyya wood in abundance in UP and Bihar, which was best suited for our toys, only could help us make cheap new generation toys, which will not need any artificial colouring,'' Yogendra Singh, one of the big toy-makers averred.

''If the government cannot lift the ban they can at least permit us to lift dry Koraiyya wood from forests, which will serve our purpose,'' he added.

Taking note of the grievances of artisans, Divisional Commissioner V V Bishwen, assured the toy-makers of taking up their concerns with the state government soon, besides sending a proposal to Lucknow for setting up a Wood Seasoning Plant in the region.

''Such a seasoning plant will help the toy-makers condition the Eucalyptus wood as per requirement, till the time the ban on cutting of Korraiya wood was lifted,'' Mr Bishwen added.

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