Forty women in the Sunderbans, so far dependent on the forests for their livelihood, are ready to take a shot at a new life, one that does not involve risking their lives.
The women living in villages on the fringe of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve have just completed a four-month tailoring course. Six sewing machines are at their disposal at a community development centre in Pakhiralay, opposite the Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary.
The women have learnt to make salwar suits, night dresses, petticoats and blouses. They have also bagged the first set of wholesale orders from shops in the market in Gosaba. The women are using the machines to make the clothes to meet the orders.
An NGO has tied up with the STR for this project, billed as a skill development programme for the forest communities.
The women, who had started the course in December, received a certificate of completion a couple of days ago.
The families of these women are dependent on the forests for their living. In most cases, that means venturing out on a boat to the narrow creeks in the interiors of the forests, searching for fish and crab.
Many are killed in tiger attacks during such expeditions. But the lack of opportunities for a steady income forces them to continue taking that risk.
One of the womenwho completed the tailoring course is Anjali Mondal. Mondal’s husband is a fisherman who ventures out into the rivers that course through the forest, usually twice every month.
“A good catch brings a few thousand rupees every month. But the risk is much more than the reward,” she said. She is banking on the tailoring project to bring a change in her life.
“Even if the money is not big to start with, there is a sense of assurance. If we keep working, moneywill come. There is a steady demand for clothes,” she said.
Biswajit Sarkar, a volunteer at Baghbon, the community development centreand the venue for the tailoring project, said the initial orders have been encouraging.
“We have got an order for close to 500 night dresses alone. For each, our commission is Rs 8. That money will be distributed among the trainees,” he said.
Many of the women accompany their husbands on the fishing expeditions in the forest. Sumitra Mondal, another trainee, is one of them.
“If there is a steady income through this new programme, I will not go into the forest. Gradually, I hope my husband won’t have to either,” she said.
Ajay Das, field director of the STR, said: “The women participants have been selected with help from the joint forest management committees. The women who have been trained will be assisted with marketing their products. We hope this project reduces the dependence on forests.”
“We plan to train around 100 women in one year. We have plans to use different fabrics like cotton, jute and silk. In the coming days, the women will also make bags and accessories,” said Joydip Kundu of the Society for Heritage & Ecological Research (SHER), the NGO behind the project.
Jumbo calf dies of ulcers
A 15-day-old elephant, rescued on Thursday from the embankment of the Mechi river along the India-Nepal border, died on Friday morning.
The male elephant calf had infected ulcers, said foresters.