BONGAON (CHHAYGAON), Dec 10 � The growing use of plastic sitting tools has failed to affect the popularity of the bamboo-made murrah which is thriving against odds and the makers of this much-needed sitting tool of Manahbasti, home to 365 families of Bamunigaon under Chhaygaon constituency are proud of their vocation. These people have little time to spare, as all of them, including the school going children devote their time to the work.
Still a going concern, the venture needs more fillip to survive the onslaught as well as to make further strides in the years to come. Supply of nearly 1 lakh murrahs of different sizes is made annually to various parts of the State including neighbouring Meghalaya. Varied in shape � the bigger, smaller and the middle sized- the hand crafted sitting tools are sold in pairs.
Murrah with saddles made of cane fetches Rs 400 while those having plastic saddles sell for Rs 90. Moreover, the apple- shaped murrah, a pair of which takes one week to complete and is made on order sells for Rs 1600. As far as the input cost is concerned, the cost of bamboo (Rs 80) and the plastic priced at the same rate per kg is affordable. While 20 murrahs can be made from one jati bamboo, 1 kg plastic can bind 16 murrahs.
�Earlier we used cane for binding when it was in abundance but with the declining of this forest produce we have switched to plastic,� Rekha Malo told this correspondent. The task of binding the used tyre of bicycle to the bottom of the sitting tool to make it good-looking and to extend its lifespan is left to the buyers.
Very much in evidence in rural areas with their handcrafted tools on the shoulders, the practitioners roam about selling them. 65-yr old Khulu Das who has sold these murrahs for 20 years has now taken to making duli- a bamboo-made container for storing paddy besides making the sitting tool. During the two month long period from Aghan to Puh, he makes more than 30 such containers that are keyed to the needs of customer.
Recalling the bygone years, a murrah maker said that earlier the return was in kind in the form of paddy in village areas.
The practitioners are unanimous on the need to popularise this eco friendly sitting tool. �On comparison, it is more comfortable, portable and biodegradable,�thet said.
For crosscutting, splitting, internal knot removing and slicing to required sizes cleavers and knives are used. 120 sticks are required to make a murrah. The profit they make is not to the desired level considering the hours involved and to cap it all, the rise of transportation cost has reduced their profit. Given the demand of this sitting tool, the business venture should be patronised. The commercially important species of jati bamboo , which is used in making murrah, is easily available. So more support for the industry is needed to give it a boost.
BONGAON (CHHAYGAON), Dec 10 � The growing use of plastic sitting tools has failed to affect the popularity of the bamboo-made murrah which is thriving against odds and the makers of this much-needed sitting tool of Manahbasti, home to 365 families of Bamunigaon under Chhaygaon constituency are proud of their vocation. These people have little time to spare, as all of them, including the school going children devote their time to the work.
Still a going concern, the venture needs more fillip to survive the onslaught as well as to make further strides in the years to come. Supply of nearly 1 lakh murrahs of different sizes is made annually to various parts of the State including neighbouring Meghalaya. Varied in shape � the bigger, smaller and the middle sized- the hand crafted sitting tools are sold in pairs.
Murrah with saddles made of cane fetches Rs 400 while those having plastic saddles sell for Rs 90. Moreover, the apple- shaped murrah, a pair of which takes one week to complete and is made on order sells for Rs 1600. As far as the input cost is concerned, the cost of bamboo (Rs 80) and the plastic priced at the same rate per kg is affordable. While 20 murrahs can be made from one jati bamboo, 1 kg plastic can bind 16 murrahs.
�Earlier we used cane for binding when it was in abundance but with the declining of this forest produce we have switched to plastic,� Rekha Malo told this correspondent. The task of binding the used tyre of bicycle to the bottom of the sitting tool to make it good-looking and to extend its lifespan is left to the buyers.
Very much in evidence in rural areas with their handcrafted tools on the shoulders, the practitioners roam about selling them. 65-yr old Khulu Das who has sold these murrahs for 20 years has now taken to making duli- a bamboo-made container for storing paddy besides making the sitting tool. During the two month long period from Aghan to Puh, he makes more than 30 such containers that are keyed to the needs of customer.
Recalling the bygone years, a murrah maker said that earlier the return was in kind in the form of paddy in village areas.
The practitioners are unanimous on the need to popularise this eco friendly sitting tool. �On comparison, it is more comfortable, portable and biodegradable,�thet said.
For crosscutting, splitting, internal knot removing and slicing to required sizes cleavers and knives are used. 120 sticks are required to make a murrah. The profit they make is not to the desired level considering the hours involved and to cap it all, the rise of transportation cost has reduced their profit. Given the demand of this sitting tool, the business venture should be patronised. The commercially important species of jati bamboo , which is used in making murrah, is easily available. So more support for the industry is needed to give it a boost.
