The origin of pottery can be traced to the Neolithic period, when coarse hand-made wares were developed. The Harrappan and Mohanjodaro cultures improved this art with the technology of wheels. Since then, these wheels have rolled out the finest pots under the expert hands of the Indian craftsmen.

Today, in the Indian villages, around 15 lakh potters with traditional skills are plying their profession. About 95% of them are engaged in the traditional red or local clay pottery work. The extent of employment of outsiders in the village pottery activities is about 9%. The rest 91% are potters family members who assist the potters in various operations, from preparation of clay to baking the raw products in the kiln.

The socioeconomic conditions of the traditional potters too is far from satisfactory.Most of the potters families have no landed property, own source of availability of raw materials, working shed, furnace etc. Thus, even if any financial organization offers them assistance they are unable to avail of it as they do not have property for mortgage against such assistance.

Hardly any potter in the unorganized pottery sector approaches the banks for loans. They take loans for other purposes such as marriages, celebration of festivals etc. Potters are also vary of Government loans as they take long winding procedures to obtain them. This leads them to the local money lenders who exploit them.

The new products introduced in the markets are durable and thus decrease the markets for earthenware, though they are much costlier than the latter. Village pottery is sold only to a limited segment of the society.

Through sensitive campaign and promotion we can keep the deft hand of the potter moving as they shape dreams out of clay.