Oyster Shell Button Industry Bounce Back-Bihar Govt,

Mehsi (Bihar), Apr 22 (PTI) The Bihar government plans to Bounce Back the oyster shell button industry, which was once the rage in French fashion, at Mehsi in East Champaran district. "A special action plan would be formulated by the state government for the revival of the button industry," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said during his visit to Mehsi a few days ago. He said his government would give full financial and technical support to revive the world-famous industry. He also directed officials that entrepreneurs in 500 units should be helped to form clusters and federations of self-help groups so that financial and technical help could quickly reach for revival of the industry's glorious past. The industry owes its origin to an enterprising sub- inspector of schools, Bhulawan Lal, who began handcrafting the buttons from oysters found in the river Sikrahna in 1905, but they lacked finish. In 1908, the first oystershell button factory, 'Tirhut Moon Button Factory', with machinery imported from Japan, was set up at an investment of Rs 1,000. By World War II, the demand for buttons produced here shot up in the rest of the country and abroad with 160 factories spread over 13 panchayats, employing 10,000 persons. Equipment for high quality drilling, polishing and laser equipment would also be provided, he said. The raw material, oyster shells were collected from the Sikrahna, Bagmati and Mahananda in Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts of North Bihar. As the collection of oyster shells emerged as good business, the Bihar government stepped in and formed the Samanya Seva Sangathan at Mehsi in 1956 under the control of the industry department to procure materials and markets for the finished goods. The unique cottage industry received a severe jolt in 1964 when lease of collecting oyster shells from rivers was entrusted to the mines department from the revenue department under the Mines and Mineral Act, 1964. Earlier, a meagre Rs 10 was paid for collecting oyster- shells for a mile of the riverbed, which rose to nearly Rs 1,000 after enforcement of the Mines Act. The industry also received another blow -- nylon buttons flooding the markets. The moneylenders who had a vice-like grip over the button industries, advanced money at exorbitant rates of interest and compelled industry owners to sell their finished goods to only them. This resulted in a fortune for them in collusion with the groups of middlemen in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and made the industry here to virtually loose its charm. However, the state government's revival plans have given some hopes to the local artisan community. The Chief Minister's assurance would make the industry bloom again, Button Artisan Association Local Secretary Jagannath Prasad said.