Local jobless youths find livelihood through sale of local dairy, vegetable products

TEZPUR, May 12 - Turning the maxim �where there�s a will there is a way� into a reality, local educated unemployed youths in Tezpur town like Pritam Borah, Putul Borah, Biplab Saikia, Toni Das, Hemanta Sharma, Ramesh Deka, Ishanku Barthakur, Angsuman Borah, Rudraksya Bibhusan Sharma, Achyut Sharmah, Pranti Sharmah Baruah, Dibyajyoti Bhuyan, Jitu Mahanta and Keshab Nath have been able to set an example of work culture finding their way of livelihood through marketing of local dairy and vegetable products in Tezpur town.

The youths are busy meeting the needs of pure dairy products under the initiative of a local sociocultural organisation �Prayas� during the ongoing lockdown. It is to be mentioned here that �Prayas� since its inception has been working to help the needy find ways to survive with dignity.

Pritam Borah, one of the men behind the organisation told this correspondent, that empowerment and self-determination of the local indigenous people, enabling them to solve their socioeconomic problems like eradication of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment is Prayas�s main mission and vision. The hardworking team has already set up sale points at Chanmari, Parbati Nagar, Vartak, Barahalia, Don Bosco, Baan Theatre, Ketekibari, Patiachuburi and Mahabhairab Bazaar to sell their produce. The organic products of �Kanakya�, a multi-cropping farm initiated by Chatia MLA, Padma Hazarika on the banks of Bharali river in Jamuguri area like vegetables, dairy products including milk, curd, cream etc., and fish and mustard oil are transported to Tezpur town to meet the peoples� needs through Prayas.

Pritam Borah, a staunch believer of work culture mentioned that from the sales during the lockdown, they got a sizeable turnover, which helped their members during the crisis caused following the lockdown. Expressing his gratitude to Chatia MLA Padma Hazarika for his noble initiative to show them the right way of livelihood, Pritam also mentioned that at a time when jobless unemployed youths go out of the State, seeking placements, through certain innovative acts they can earn good income at their homes itself. He also mentioned that besides working in the line of motivating local youths towards work culture, their NGO also gives special focus on primary health care, family planning and family welfare, comprehensive rural development, preservation of environment, giving education to the disadvantaged sections of the society, relief and rehabilitation of the flood and other natural calamity-affected people, woman empowerment, cultural enrichment etc. �As part of cultural activities of �Prayas�, we have already staged a play Ochin Kathor Thura many times in our area to showcase how we the local people are blackmailed or cheated by other influential forces hurting our dignity and identity,� he said.

Another hard working Assamese youth Putul Baruah who has been earning his livelihood by laundry work since 1998 setting an example of work culture among the Assamese people has also set up a new outlet of Kanakya farm�s produce under the initiative of Parayas at Chanmari. He said, �If we have a positive mind we have enough income sources here in our own land. A question always haunts me as to why our youths go outside only for a salary of Rs 5,000 to 10,000 per month. Our naturally fertile agricultural lands are left unused. If we work properly, our fertile lands will yield good products. But at many times it is seen that our lands are inadvertently sold to big industrialists or businessmen, instead of going for agricultural activities due to which we the indigenous people are becoming landless.�

Moreover, social worker Dr Birendra Kr Nath, journalist Pankaj Baruah, Debabrat Sharma, Hemanta Kr Sarmah, Debraj Sharma, Dr Sanjay Kr. Deka among others who are also connected with the NGO are of the opinion that our local educated youths should get involved in farm activities through which besides earning income, the economy and work culture of the region would be restored.