Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 05:
Godsends every man to contribute atleast something before he heads for his eternal abode.
This is the idea behind instituting a very special Self Helf Group (SHG), called Punsfti Sintha Tengbang Lup.
It is special and unique in the sense that all the SHG members are educated, young and rearing to go, but visually challenged.
All the members are the product of Government Ideal Blind School, Takyel, and majority of them have passed Matriculation, with some of them even breaking the Graduation level.
Simply put, they too are a part of the educated and unemployed lot.
However, they don't sit idle as majority of the educated youth do.
Fifteen of them are now in the advance stage of a two-month training programme on kouna crafts imparted by the trainers of Kasturva Gandhi Kendra, Kwakeithel.
"Even though we can't feel the world visually, we want to contribute something to the family, society, State and the Nation as a whole like any other normal human being and it is this motivational force that spurs us to institute this SHG", said its general secretary Khundrakpam Prem-jit and added, "as the name suggests the SHG would definitely help the members to contribute their bit to the society".
One may apprehend how a visually challenged person can meet the demand of the market deadline and quality.
Trainer Thokchom Bigyaneshori has the answer.
According to her, there are many areas where visually challenged ''persons pick up faster than than the sighted persons.
She said that her trainees are picking the things right in terms of quality as well as time consumption just like as a normal person does.
The trainer with her associate Irengbam Ichan have been imparting training to three female and 12 male members of the SHG since May 8 last between 10:30 am to 4:00 pm everyday.
And both of them expressed satisfaction with the progress of the trainees.
The training will wind up on May 18, but the question is 'what next! Managing Director of the KGK, Sarita said that the trust would assist the SHG in marketing their products if they continue production".
The SHG has made up its mind to continue production after the training.
But the problem is who will provide financial help for materials {Kouna).
KGK is currently providing all the,required materials but they would not do the same after the training.
SHG general secretary Premjit said that they have sought financial help from some funding agencies and Government Departments.
And he is very much optimistic of getting the required fund being as a group of first of its kind.
They would make up the gap by the money which is gathered through personal contributions of the members, Premjit added.
Trainer Bigyaneshori suggested that they can also earn some money by selling the items which they have made during^ training session.