Sivakasi of Orissa

Nalabanta, a tiny village on the outskirts of Aska, is known as Sivakasi of South Orissa for manufacturing fireworks in huge quantity.Making fireworks is almost a way of life here. The inhabitants, mostly poor, make a quick buck by manufacturing fireworks during Diwali and sundry other functions. A number of mishaps due to blasts has failed to deter the people from ‘playing with fire’. Rather they have taken the mishaps in their stride.During last three decades, at least 25 villagers have died due to blasts while manufacturing crackers. The deceased include women and children. The blasts normally occur just before the Diwali. Though manufacturing fireworks is household business here, the village has only a handful of licensed firework manufacturers. The rest have been manufacturing fireworks illegally for decades.Of late, the number of accidents during manufacture of fireworks has multiplied due to involvement of unskilled workers. The elders of the village feel that the small-time fireworks makers should form a cooperative to get licence to manufacture fireworks in an organised way so that the risks can be minimised. But no attempt has been made in this direction yet.Villagers make fireworks as per order for various occasions like marriages, rallies and idol immersions apart from Diwali. But they eagerly wait for Diwali as it is their main source of income.Fireworks were first manufactured in the village under the patronage of king of Dharakote. Later after independence, the villagers took it up as a profession. They earn up to Rs 50 lakh a year, most of which is earned around Diwali. The finished goods are supplied throughout Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.The village is known for manufacturing hugely popular “Aska Chakra”, an innovative cracker made of palm leaves. This cracker spins like a “chakra”, rises high like a rocket and explodes mid-air.The village usually takes centrestage during Diwali. But this year it is in the news much before the Festival of Lights due to a different reason. Police have cracked down on illegal fireworks manufacturers in the village.Three platoons of armed police led by revenue officials raided five cracker-making units in the village and seized explosive materials worth around Rs 5 lakhs yesterday. Two persons were detained for interrogation. Last month, police had seized fireworks worth around Rs 2 lakh.