Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei
Tamenglong, August 31 2010:
An elderly woman, TR Phumdinliu alias Adinliu in Tamenglong district of Manipur has invented a local soap from natural medicinal green leaves and fruits to support her family's financial demands.
TR Phumdinliu 67 @ Adinliu wife of TR Gaichuilung alias Achui is a resident of Council Colony Tamenglong Ward No.VI.
She originally hails from Makuai (Atengba) of Tousem Sub- Division, her family shifted to the district HQs about 20 years ago.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao News Service on Monday TR Adinliu disclosed that earlier she made both bathing and washing soap from medicinal natural green leaves and fruits.
However, she has now embarked in the process of manufacturing a single soap for both bathing and washing purposes.
She has made soap as a profession for six years.
However, she is not able to produce in large quantities due to financial constraints.
'Though natural medicinal green leaves and fruits were available in plenty for free I have to purchase other materials, but I am poor and I cannot afford to purchase all that', TR Adinliu rued.
Learning from an old Maring woman, TR Adinliu worked with the available resources to her she strived hard to support her family.
She has two sons and two daughters who lived outside the state seeking work after graduation.
She has also accepted a girl who has settled to lived with her.
Further she looks after two nieces.
"Customers who use my soap say that my soap is good in removing dirt from our bodies and is good for washing clothes as it removes dirt quickly, This soap also cures skin diseases like ringworm, itching and scabies", TR Adinliu said with a smile.
She is able to manufacture 70 pieces of her soap in a week and the cost price of one is Rs 12.Due to financial constraints she has not been able to expand her work as big business.
She revealed she mixes Alovera, neems leaves, lemons, Tajeithai (local name) and other medicinal leaves to make her product.
To add a good odour she buys scents from the market.
Apart from the medicinal green leaves and fruits she has to purchase materials like kosteletzya and palm oil either from Imphal or Dimapur, she said.
She has no retail outlets and she sells her products on the market days in Tamenglong district HQs.
Customers from her sub- Division of Tousem, Tamei HQ regularly purchases her products, she stated.
Meanwhile another woman identified as Achinga Pricilla 31 wife of Lungjin said that she has made a liquid dish cleaner with help from Diocesan Social Service, DSS in Imphal.
DSS sell kits to SHGs at the cheapest prices.
From kits I receive I have made a dish cleaner which can also be used to wash clothes, Achinga said.
Supporting her, one Anna Mary said that after using the cleaner, her daughter now has no worries in washing clothes or utensils.