FIGURE 6: Colourful wooden toys of Channapatna

Solar potential of the cluster

Solar potential has been estimated for business interest of solar manufacturers and suppliers, which may further enhance the viability. There are around 200 units and each unit has been proposed with 5 kWp. It is estimated that the cluster has an aggregate solar potential5 of 1000 kWp.

4.1.4 Channapatna Woodwork Cluster

Cluster profile

Channapatna is a town and taluk headquarters of Ramanagara district in Karnataka and located on the midway of Bengaluru–Mysore highway, 60 km and 80 km, respectively. It stands out for being a treasure trove of wooden toys and lacquer ware, giving it the endearing title of ‘Gombegala nagara’, literally meaning ‘town of toys’. The artisans of the studied enterprises were adept in making wooden kitchen utensils, handicrafts, decorative pieces, lifestyle products, gift items, wooden stationery, and educational equipment. The ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, is said to have encouraged the craft, but it was limited to serving local demands. Later, the market was flooded with cheap Chinese toys that led to slump in demand for original Channapatna toys. The state handicrafts corporation, local NGOs, and various designers are credited with reviving this age-old art and popularizing it with the younger generation and international market.

There are around 500 such units that employ more than 72,000 people in toy making. The enterprises

FIGURE 6: Colourful wooden toys of Channapatna

5 Estimated based on 200 units of 5 kWp solar PV capacity