https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Buying Earthen Diyas In Kota Might Get You a Refrigerator For Free 

Indian Masterminds Stories

Traditional earthen lamps or diyas used in decorating buildings during Diwali have  of late, been replaced with electric lights, mostly imported from China. They are not only inexpensive but less cumbersome to users as compared to diyas. They are causing a drain on our foreign exchange reserves but more importantly such lights are taking away livelihood of many artisans

Mr. OP Bunkar, DM Kota

and potters who wait for Diwali for the whole year to earn some money. The ever decreasing demand of diyas has pushed the potters towards joblessness and starvation. At the same time without realising we are also losing on some important traditional handicrafts. Many of us would miss the earthen wares and toys made of wood and mud, we would have played in the childhood.

But all seems to have not been lost. There are fine glimmers of hope in certain quarters. The District Collector of Kota (Rajasthan) Mr. OP Bunkar, has taken pains to promote diyas. With his efforts not only demand for earthen lamps had gone up but potters’ income this year has increased by three folds. 

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, DC (Kota) Mr. OP Bunkar talked about the steps he took to promote Diya in his district. 

EXEMPTING THEM FROM TAXES 

Generally, the potters don’t have permanent shops. They have nowhere but footpath to sit and sell their product. The local bodies ask them to  show the required permission from the government and if they fail to present, they are fleeced by local administration and the police. Mr. Bunkar has exempted all the potters from these permission. “In Kota potters don’t need any permission. We have collaborated with local bodies and municipalities to make sure the potters don’t have to pay anything. They barely get any profits from selling their wares and extra pressure of permission only worsens their situation.”

INCREASING DEMAND 

The district administration is also organizing ‘Deep Daan’ in Kishore Sagar lake. 21000 Diyas will be floated in the lake while 21000 diyas will be decorated on the boundaries of the lake. Mr. Bunkar said, “For this activity, the government is buying 50,000 Diya. This has also elevated the demand in the city. Even public is buying the Diya to participate in the event.”

LOTTERY SYSTEM 

To help the potters, in one sub-division, the administration has come up with a lottery scheme. Sharing the details about the scheme Mr. Bunkar said, “For every 20 Diya the buyer will get a coupon. The prize will be given through lottery system. There are 10-12 prizes for the taking and the first prize is a refrigerator.”

All this is being done through public participation and motivation. The administration is also taking help of NGOs and other inistitute to promote this initiative. Mr Bunkar said that the all these efforts are done to promote local products and environment safety. 

While disposal of dysfunctional electric lights is an environmental hazard, diyas disintegrate automatically in soil. This model can be replicated elsewhere as well saving the potters community and their handicrafts from extinction. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
bureaucracy news
Major Bureaucratic Reforms on the Anvil as Centre Hires Consultant to Map Bottlenecks & Draft Roadmap - Details Inside
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on ₹8,585 Cr Bank Loans from Seven PSU Banks; Debt Soars to ₹34,484 Cr
HSL CMD Khatri
Upskill to Stay Ahead: HSL CMD Cmde Khatri’s Call to Maritime Sector at BIMSTEC 2025
IPS A.B
HC Clears Former Top Cop: Andhra Ends All Legal Action Against IPS Venkateswara Rao
Minister Sonowal
Hydrogen Tug Project Gets Boost as Minister Sonowal Backs Hindustan Shipyard (HSL)’s Vision - Details Inside
IOCL and SJVN
PESB Invites Applications for Director Posts in IOCL and SJVN; Deadlines Set for August 11
IREDA logo 1
IREDA Seeks Shareholder Nod to Raise Borrowing Limit to ₹1.5 Lakh Crore; Pushes for Massive RE Financing
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Punjab Promotes 8 IPS Officers to DGP Rank, Now Has Nation’s Highest Number of Top-Rank Police Officers
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
promila gupta
The Secret of The Secret – How To Make The Universe Conspire For You
AI 171 CRASH
AAIB Initial Probe In AI-171 Crash Questioned By Aviation Experts
Ravi Kapoor
Why Ex-IRS Officer Ravi Kapoor Walked Away from Power
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-14 at 15.58
The Economist Who Became an IFS Officer
How Abhimanyu Gahlaut balanced global economics and civil services dreams to crack UPSC with AIR 38
Disha Dwivedi UPSC
How Disha Dwivedi Conquered UPSC on Her Sixth Attempt
Disha Dwivedi’s UPSC journey from five prelims failures to securing AIR 672 in 2024 showcases strategic...
Sushmitha and Ishwarya Ramanathan
Their Home Was Washed Away — Sushmitha & Ishwarya Built a Legacy Instead
Sushmitha and Ishwarya lost their home to the 2004 tsunami. But with books, belief, and each other, they...
Social Media
Standing Leopard
Leopard Stuns Internet by Standing on Two Legs Like a Meerkat
A rare video of a leopard standing on two legs in Kruger Park stuns viewers and goes viral across social...
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
Beat Forest Officer G.S. Roshni’s first-ever king cobra rescue goes viral, earning her the title of ‘Green...
Kaziranga Baby Elephant
Chotu the Baby Elephant Reunited with Mother in Kaziranga: Retired IFS Officer’s Post Goes Viral
A baby elephant's emotional reunion with its mother in Kaziranga, shared by retired IFS officer Susanta...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
bureaucracy news
Major Bureaucratic Reforms on the Anvil as Centre Hires Consultant to Map Bottlenecks & Draft Roadmap - Details Inside
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on ₹8,585 Cr Bank Loans from Seven PSU Banks; Debt Soars to ₹34,484 Cr
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
promila gupta
AI 171 CRASH
Ravi Kapoor
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT