Himalayan News Service

Narayangadh, March 17:

Copper entrepreneurs are worried by the fall in demand for copper products particularly, pots made of copper.

Bhim Bahadur Bishwakarma 45, is uncertain about his future since copper pots are not being sold in the local market. He is not the only person who has been stranded due to the fall in his business. All copper entrepreneurs based in Narayangadh are afraid of being jobless.

Bhim Bahadur, whose entire family has been involved in the copper trade, depends heavily for his livelihood on the profession. He along with his wife, daughter-in-law and son-in-law have been running a shop at Lilachwok of Narayangadh for the last three years.

Entrepreneurs involved in the profession have been charging Rs 40 as labour cost per day. Usually customers provide them with copper and they charge according to the weight of the copper. "Our profession is facing a threat, since we are not getting sufficient work from people," said Bhim Bahadur.

The practice of giving copper pots as part of the dowry during marriages is on the verge of extinction. Very few people are found to be giving copper jars as dowry during marriages. This has killed one of the most established source of demand for this trade.

Earlier, there used to be 15 shops where copper products were available, but the number has now come down to five. Even though the price of copper-sheets has increased from Rs 190 to Rs 280 but the labour costs remain the same. The price of other materials like coal and acid used in preparing copper pots have also skyrocketed.

"What shall we do? The house-rent is very high. I have to pay Rs 2, 000 every month" said Bishwakarma. The copper entrepreneurs however remain hopeful about an increment in their labour charge.

According to some local intellectuals, if sales go up, labour costs will obviously go up. The copper industries, which manufacture copper-sheets, are only located in Butwal, Nepalganj and Kathmandu.