Training on water hyacinth products shows ray of hope to villagers

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, November 4: “I was running a small tea stall, but to my misfortune, I was detected with cancer for which the customers avoided visiting my stall putting me in a helpless situation as I had to bear the burden of daily livelihood, besides bearing the expensive treatment. While I was compelled to think for putting an end to my life, the members of Inner Vision-a premier non-government organization, motivated me to join the training programme on water hyacinth products and also provided me its raw materials free of labour cost. Now I am confident that I can meet my daily livelihood and to continue my  treatment by selling the products in the market,” said Rohini Deka  a trainee of the three-month training programme on water hyacinth products conducted by Inner Vision. The NGO has started the programme in collaboration with NEDFi   at village Bherua in the western part of Darrang district.

Similarly, another water hyacinth craft artiste Mabi Rajbongshi told The Sentinel that water hyacinth, which are found in abundance in the water bodies and considered useless, had given housewives like her who had little formal education the scope to lead a dignified life by earning Rs 10,000- Rs 12,000 per month. Several other trainees mely Barli Baisya, Pronita Devi, Archa Kalita and Kanchan Kalita also sounded optimistic that they could start their new venture of self-employment with support from NEDFi and the government .

Darrang Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kr Barman, while attending the valedictory function of the training programme organized at the NGO office recently, appreciated the initiatives taken up by Inner Vision to explore the raw materials available in the nearby water bodies and transform them into quality market products.

The function chaired by Director of Inner Vision, bajyoti Deka  was also addressed  by several distinguished guests, including the secretary of District Legal Services Authority, Darrang, Rajneesh Bora, Assistant Mager (CSR  Division) of NEDFi, Guwahati, Saurav Kr Sarma, DIPRO of Darrang, Samar Kalita, member of Darrang Zila Parishad, Hemanta Kr Deka, senior jourlists Bhargab Kr Das and Mayukh Goswami and member of Sipajhar Anchalik Panchayat,  Kak Deka.

The guests also distributed certificates to the participating trainees of different short-term professiol training programs conducted by the NGO over the last one year like beautician course, spoken English, in addition to training on water hyacinth products. The objectives of the function, which ended with the vote of thanks by  programme coorditor Lokeswar th, was explained by Executive Director of Inner Vision, Kamal th.