Earning through dry flower making
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 27 2013:
For 50-year old Decha Khoibu of Mayangkhang Ningthoupham village in Senapati, one need not hanker for Government job to lead a respectable life but needs to remain focused and nurture one's interest to sustain livelihood.
Having learned the intricate trade of dry flower making from her husband Angcha Khoibu from around 1985, Decha merits to be best described as a successful woman entrepreneur for her venture not only supplements the family income but also facilitates other financially strapped women to generate income by joining the same trade.
Speaking to The Sangai Express at Hapta Kangjeibung, where she is running a dry-flower stall at the ongoing Regional Saras Fair, Decha said her expertise is not only limited to dry-flower making but also includes making bamboo flower pots, each priced at Rs 200 .
It is said that about 12 women, including some widows, and a few men are engaged in dry-flower making at Decha's home with the other workers able to earn at the average of Rs 250 each working day.
In case the product quantity needs to be increased for participation at fairs, both in the State and outside, the workers are paid extra allowances, said decha informing that the workers engaged at her home-unit collects dry flowers, leaves and twigs from the nearby hill ranges.
After some painting/colouring work and decorating the dry-flower products with plastic stems the finished product cost in between Rs 30 to Rs 50 .
With hill areas having limited source of earning, Decha said she is more than satisfied that other people too could be provided job.
Confiding that taking part in fairs fetches more income than normal sale at the market place, she also informed that under the initiative of District Rural Development Agency, Senapati she and other co-workers had participated at various fairs held at Chandigarh, Goa, Pune and Odisha.
Opining that owing to inclement weather the ongoing Saras Fair is not able to attract many visitors, Decha also said she is eagerly awaiting start of the Manipur Sangai Festival for sale of dry flower products in the previous fairs was very brisk.