Indigenous dolls going places
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Amukhomba Ngangbam

Imphal, November 28 2011: Making dolls and selling has become a highly profitable business in the state, if one has the desire to do so.

One can witness the reality and the pleasure of it at the Manipur Sangai Festival at Hatta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound, organized by the Tourism department, GoM.

The Evergreen Godness Doll Making, Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai which has opened a handicraft stall in the Sangai festival has all the answer to the queries one has in mind.

The stall displays a number of traditionally made dolls and is a clear example that dolls making and selling it can earn you a huge profit, Susila Leima, proprietor of the Evergreen Godness Doll Making, Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai said that in her stall various traditional and indigenous dolls including that of Nongpok Ningthou Panthoibi, Bor Keinya, women fishing with the net, typical Meetei marriage scene, Ras Leela, Sandrenbi Cheishra and others are a huge draw with the customers.

She further said that these dolls are in huge demands in countries like France, Thailand and Myanmar.

A doll portraying a Meetei women in traditional attire has been already sold in France.

Apart from exporting the products outside India, the dolls are in great demand in different states of India like Rajasthan, Shillong and Siliguri.

She also proudly informed Hueiyen Lanpao that she has presented her dolls to the President of India, Pratibha Devi Singh as also to the Governor, Gurbachan Jagat.

The rate of the dolls varies from Rs 2000 to 11,000 .

Just by selling dolls she could earn a monthly income of Rs 30,000, she added.

On being enquired as to how she got into the business of doll making, Susila Leima said that, she was from a very poor family.

One day as she and her younger sister were strolling in the market on the occasion of Krishnajanmasthami, her sister insisted on buying a doll which was sold in the market.

As they could not buy the doll she came back home and made a similar doll out of the old shirt of her father.

The doll came out so beautiful that many girls of the locality came to her asking for the dolls.

From that day onwards she started making dolls and selling it in the market.

She was only 10 years old then.

Now her sister has also joined in the business and some other staffs are also employed in the business and the business is going on smoothly.

She has also received the Best Quality Production Award conferred by the Integrated Women Congress.

Till date no help from the government side was given, she said.

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