By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG: Fascinating cards, bags, frames and gift boxes designed with real flowers and leaves adorn a stall at the SARAS (Sale of Articles by Rural Artisans) fair in Laitumkhrah. The handicrafts are by Almighty Nongsiej.
Nongsiej has received her training from Bio Resources Development Centre (BRDC) at 7th mile in the art of pressing and drying plants.
She told The Shillong Times that she would walk for three and a half hours from Thangmaw under Mawthadraishan constituency to reach the pucca road in Mairang. From there she would go to 7th Mile in Upper Shillong for training.
The condition of Thangmaw road has been lying in a “dug-up” state for the last 27 years and the residents have recently taken up the task of repairing the road following the lackadaisical attitude of the representatives.
Nongsiej said the dilapidated road was a hurdle but she chose to cross it as “the training is a platform that provides self-employment to people”.
“Training is for three days, one week, 15 days only for dry flower making. The materials used are paper for making the cards which we get from BRDC, whereas the flowers are from the garden and I collect moss from the nearby forests,” she said and added with a hint of pride in her voice, “The cards that are embedded with moss are a high seller.”
Pointing to the flowers, Nongsiej said, “These are flowers that are plucked from the garden and dried using solar dryer. In winter it takes three days for the flowers to get dry.”
She makes the flowers and cards during leisure hours after she is done with household chores. “I devote three hours for this work and I end up finishing seven cards in a day,” she said.
However, she expressed disappointment as till date she cannot print any wordings on the card and their organisation’s trademark signature.
“We still need more equipment to make/cut the cards, bags etc. I want to know from where do they get the paper and procure it myself,” she said.
A woman who looks for details, she told this reporter that the cutting of the card is uneven and the organisation requires a machine for finesse. Taking a gift box, she showed how the ribbon is tied elaborately and said, “The shape of the ribbon has to come this way.”
Nongsiej has also been exposed to the exhibition scenario outside the state in Guwahati and Delhi as directed by National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). She said that the response in those places was good but people still look for details, like the intricate cutting of the card.
About the training provided, she said, “The training has helped a lot. Earlier, I only sit at home, look after the children, but why sit idle?”
After the training, it has become sufficient for the family financially in addition to her husband’s earning, and sends her children to school. “Even if the earning is less, it is still sufficient for the family,” Nongsiej said.
“Such training has uplifted the condition of women as well. We need to have patience and we will receive your fruit in due time. But some women argue that it is not going to work but for me it has been fruitful,” she added.
Not satisfied with just one kind of training, Nongsiej was asked by the BDO if she would go for further training in food processing which took a month for the first time and another two weeks.
Armed with knowledge in food processing, she makes wine and takes them to the town and comes to Shillong too when she gets calls from people here.
“Once you go for training, you should work because you should make something out of it. Poverty is prevalent because people don’t work, you have to work and work hard,” she said.