Their livelihoods now as fragile as the glass bangles they make, lakhs of people in Uttar Pradesh's famed city of glass' are hoping this election will bring in change and their industry will get a much-needed revival.
The once ubiquitous vendors selling bangles on carts have slowly faded away over the years and today you can see but a few, a visible sign of a once vibrant industry in decline. It has long been a symbol of local craft but now battles modern challenges, say artisans, factory owners and shopkeepers.
The immense competition from plastic and metal bangles has eaten into their market share, resulting in a noticeable decline in sales of the traditional glass variety.
"The demand for our handmade glass bangles is diminishing. The younger generation is not interested in learning our traditional art, and cheap plastic bangles are flooding the market. Also, not many women wear glass bangles now," said Ram Lal, an artisan at Natraj Lakshmi Bangles.
"Additionally, the industry i
↧
