FB group Eta rolls out programmes to help survivors Avenues opened for livelihood
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 21 2023:
In a noble gesture, Eta, a Facebook group formed in 2019, has rolled out several programmes to provide a source of income to women taking refuge at relief camps.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, trustee member of Eta-North East Women Network Beerjurekha Samom said that they have been working at their best since May 4 to alleviate the suffering of the displaced people.
Apart from donating clothes and other essentials, members of Eta have been conducting training programmes on pickle-making, bun-baking, incense sticks-making, basket-making, mat-crafting etc to provide a source of livelihood to the displaced women by teaming up with the local clubs, she conveyed.
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Saying that they provide raw materials to the women at relief camps and also help them in the marketing process, Beerjurekha said that they at Eta have sold several goods made by the displaced women abroad too including the United States.
She went on to say that they have distributed several weaving machines to six relief camps set up in Bishnupur.
Saying that Bishnupur DC also donated Rs 5,28,000 to buy the weaving machines, Beerjurekha said that they, however, managed to give 20 more weaving machines to the relief camps.
Continuing that they at Eta have been providing yarns for making clothes to the women at relief camps, she said that they will extend help in marketing the clothes being woven at relief camps.
She further said that they took upto the initiative to help the displaced women overcome the trauma they had undergone and give them a purpose instead of depending for everything on donation.
People have been responding positively to the initiative of Eta and buying the goods and items which come from relief camps to their heart's content, she said.
Maintaining that Eta have been doing whatever they can to help the people at relief camps by collecting money from among its over 4,000 members, she continued that they haven't sought donations till now.
The founder and chairperson of Eta-North East Women Network Sophia Rajkumari herself has donated Rs 50,000 for the cause, she added.
Saying that they will continue to help the displaced people at their capacity, Beerjurekha maintained that they also have applied for a loan of 60 displaced people from the Manipur Rural Bank.
Of the 60 people, the process is completed to give loans to 16 of them, she said and added that the loanees will get Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 from the bank.