TN polls: Rising silver prices push Salem’s Shevapet anklet industry into crisis

The steady hum of machines, the glow of molten silver, and the rhythmic movement of skilled hands shaping intricate anklets once defined daily life in Shevapet, a bustling neighbourhood in Salem known as one of South India’s largest hubs for silver anklet manufacturing.

For decades, the area supported generations of artisans, with more than 1,000 small workshops operating across the locality in Tamil Nadu. However, many of these workshops have now fallen silent.

Artisans say the sharp rise in silver prices has pushed the industry to the brink. With limited capital to purchase raw materials, many small craftsmen are struggling to continue production.

Workers say the soaring cost of silver has drastically reduced trade volumes, as customers hesitate to buy expensive anklets. As a result, orders have dropped drastically, leaving many workshops without work.

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Adding to the uncertainty is the approaching election season. Artisans fear that strict enforcement measures and transport checks under the Model Code of Conduct could further disrupt the movement of silver and finished products, worsening the situation.

With incomes dwindling, many workers have been forced to abandon the trade altogether. Several artisans have shifted to other forms of work, while others have migrated in search of better job opportunities.

Ahead of Tamil Nadu assembly polls, workers are now urging the government to step in with immediate support, warning that without intervention, Tamil Nadu’s long-standing silver anklet industry could face irreversible decline.