TEZPUR, April 21 � At a time when many educated youths are reeling under severe unemployment problem, more than 4000 youngsters hailing from different villages in and around Tezpur town have found their way of livelihood by making varied goods used in our day-to-day life from water hyacinth.
This is a typical case of hardship, perseverence, tenacity and ultimate success by many educated youths of many villages in Sonitpur district by availing training on how to make goods out of water hyacinth, jute etc.
It may be mentioned here that Jeuti, a frontline NGO established in 2004 taking Nagaon as their headquarter with an aim to provide employment to the unemployed people have been working here in various field, including imparting training to the people, health camps, cleanliness drive, awareness on socio-economic development etc. and has already set a unique example by showing way of livelihood to thousands of people here, including artisans by making various economically viable goods like bags, soft dolls, flower vase, journal ramp/rack, ornaments etc. from water hyacinth and jute.
�We have already seven branch offices across the State, including the Sonitpur branch here at Ketekibari, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Lakhimpur�, said Jadumoni Nath, an educated youth who has been project director of the NGO hailing from Gandhibori area of Nagaon district, adding that the NGO has been able to gain popularity as it has already imparted training to more than 4000 artisans here on the production from jute, water hyacinth, soft toys etc.
Till date, we have given training to altogether 25 batches comprising 100 to 150 members in each batch in Sonitpur, who are basically rural unemployed people. After completion of the training, the skilled artisans are provided financial assistance of Rs. 300 to 4000 for running their works, Nath continued.
Sikha Mahanta, a skillful artisan under the NGO is now reaping the benefits after attending various trainings on the subject and arduous struggle when at times, she and other fellow members of Jeuti, Anjuma Begum, Alumora Begum, Hasina Begum, Rubi Das and Taru Bhuyan were so vulnerable that the very survival of their families were at stake in order to make both ends meet.
Now their lives are gradually changing. These artisans, who otherwise are dedicated workers and true followers of work culture, said that most of the villagers who are today skillful artisans after availing training under Jeuti. They are now a days earning a sizeable amount of money by selling various jute and water hyacinth items of daily use like bags, soft dolls, flower vase, journal ramp/rack, ornaments etc. which at present enjoy high demand in the market.
However, expressing annoyance over the indifferent attitude of the departments concerned, the project director of Jeuti further added that crores of money have been spent for boosting up various handicraft missions, but this eco-friendly and local enterprise with much economic viability in the market and the society has been neglected.
�That is why we are trying our level best to support these skilful artisans through our minimum capabilities so that they can find a way of livelihood and live in society with dignity,� the NGO activist maintained.
