Jewellers strike: Action shifts underground for wedding work

According to a jeweller, who requested anonymity, there is no dearth of work for workers and designers, who are busy making ornaments as demand peaks ahead of the wedding Mahurat Sawas this month.

As per the Hindu tradition, Sawas is considered auspicious and thousands tie the knot that day. The result: Both demand and price of jewellery are sky rocketing, though officially, the strike continues for over a month now. 

“The gold is being sold in the market without the customs duty. The shutters are down, but the workers and artisans at jewellery manufacturing units inside deep streets are working day and night to make up for the wedding demand,” Manish Agrawal, a city-based expert said. 

Up to 95 per cent of the jewellery trade across the district has shifted base.

Mooji Nuwal, spokesperson of the Sarraf Association of Bundi said: “The gold jewellery trade and designing work is closed due to the strike, but (only) in small towns and villages, it is going underground,” said Nuwal. 

Noratmal Agrawal, President of Bundi Sarraf Bazaar, echoed his point. “The market is totally closed, but smaller orders are being made up with the gold stocked,” Agrawal added.

In the meantime, the government has formed a sub-committee under former Chief Economic Advisor Ashok Lahiri to study the matter and come up with suggestions. 

Since there is not enough gold in the market for regular transactions, much of the marriage requirement is being met through bullion stocked up for the purpose.