JHARSUGUDA: Till a few years back the villagers of Debadihi earned handsome returns from the firecrackers business. Accidents due to carelessness in storing crackers and resultant casualties have snatched away the livelihood of many families in the village under Jharsuguda municipal limits.The families which were in the trade for over 70 years had to switch profession, after police clampdown and shutting down of several units, to keep their kitchen fire burning. Ever since the accidents in 2004 and 2005, the police clamped down on some units have put an end to the crackers business. The subsequent harassment not only put a stop to economic activity but deprived the poor families of their livelihood. Going down memory lane, Mamata Dansena (32) said there was no dearth of money as long as we made crackers. After the ban Dansena, a widow, earns her living by preparing brooms and palm mats. Tracing back the trade to their forefathers who had learnt its nuances from one Raj Kishore Rath, she said Debadihi had carved a distinct place in making of crackers and traders from across the country trooped in to purchase the products. Now even funds are not there to buy the raw materials and only a few are capable of keeping the tradition alive, she said. Sub-Collector Rajesh Agarwal said misuse of explosives led the administration to restrict the trade. Admitting that it could be a flourishing cottage industry, Agarwal said efforts would be made to revive the industry.
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