kites sold in shops
Anil Awasthi, Jagran, Rampur. On Makar Sankranti, Rampuri kites were flown across the country. Kites were sent from here mainly to Delhi, Punjab and Jaipur. Altogether more than 50 lakh kites were sent from Rampur. Not only the artisans are excited by this but the businessmen also seem happy.
Kite business in Rampur is hundreds of years old. The livelihood of more than a thousand families here depends on this business. There are more than a hundred kite factories in the city. About six-seven hundred artisans are working in these. Kite wholesaler Akram Ali says that the season of this business is mainly from Diwali to Makar Sankranti.
The demand for kites also increases on national festivals like Republic Day and Independence Day. However, kites are prepared throughout the year for orders received from all over the country on major festivals. Due to this, the hands of the artisans engaged in this business do not remain empty. He says that this time on Makar Sankranti, more than 10 lakh kites have been sent on order from across the district to Delhi, Punjab and Jaipur.
Paper, Khatima and wood for making kites come from Kolkata and Assam. Kite artisan Ayan tells that an artisan prepares about a thousand kites in a day. This does not mean that he prepares a complete kite. He just does his part like cutting the design or fitting the match.
He gets three hundred to four hundred rupees for one thousand kites. This time the artisans are also excited by getting huge orders. Whereas artisan Faizan says that it usually takes 12 hours to work on one thousand kites. In such a situation, the wages received by the artisans are very less. Everyone from businessmen to those in charge should pay attention to this.
One kite provides employment to eight people
There is a lot of business mathematics hidden behind the kite which is available for just five rupees. It takes eight artisans to make one kite. Artisan Faizan tells that in terms of size, different kites are made with names like Addhi, Manjhola, Pauna, Kontail.
In preparing these, different artisans do the work of cutting the paper, joining it, attaching the strap, fixing the stick, attaching the match, adding the string and then packing. The raw kites prepared in the factory are sent to the villages for complete preparation. Where mostly women work on this. In this way, women from rural areas are also getting work from home using kites.
Kite business facing challenges
The kite flying business is facing challenges. Businessman Nadeem says that mainly work lasts only for three months and one has to sit idle for nine months. Wood and paper cannot be stocked due to fear of spoilage. Due to this business not being organized and systematic, it is not able to fly like a kite.
While the kite business has been considered a source of entertainment as well as physical exercise, the use of Chinese kites to fly it has become an enemy of many people's lives. Kite trader Akram says that Chinese Manjha has become a stigma for this business. Due to this many people have distanced themselves from kite flying. Things will be resolved only if the administration strictly bans its use. Businessman Shahid Idrisi also reiterated that Chinese Manjha kites are breaking the backbone of the business and it should be banned.
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