Imphal:In a relief camp Khangabok in Thoubal district of Manipur houses around 210 people. A new light of ray is being ushered in where  ‘1 million Heros’, a global, multi-platform entertainment brand, dedicated to inspire and instill confidence in a generation of children around the world has come up with an idea for sustainable livelihood for the internally displaced persons in Manipur.

‘1 million Heros’ team is training the displaced persons in crocheting amigurumi dolls for global sales.

It is one of the five relief camps across Manipur where amigurumi doll making training is being imparted to inmates, mostly women.

36-year-old Laishram Geeta Leima, mother of 3, is one of the trainees pinning her hope on crocheting for short term livelihood of her family in these times of trouble. She had to flee for safety when her village in Sugnu Awang Leikai in Kakching district was attacked by armed miscreants on 27th May. Geeta sees a ray of hope in the art of crochet being easy to master, satisfying and productive as well.

Many in Manipur are languishing in make-shift relief camps as an impact of the ongoing violence in the State that has so far killed over 175 lives, injured at least 1,108 and 4,786 houses set on fire

Since August first week, the ‘1 million heroes’ has been visiting relief camps and training interested persons to crocheting amigurumi dolls, providing them with the know-hows, detailed templates, the tools and raw materials.

The target is to train groups of individuals in 5 relief camps and each camp specializing in each of the 5 characters, conceived as the first line of the global amigurumi doll brand.  The characters include – Buddy- the pet Dog, Mitten- the Cat, Raja-the Tiger, Oliver -the Bear and Bola – the Buddy 

Besides several private enterprises conducting livelihood activities training at the relief camps, Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department of the Government of Manipur has also organized different livelihoods activities training programmes, such as agarbatti-making, floor disinfectant like phenyl, detergent-making, liquid dishwash making, cocoon reeling, scrunchies making and paper bag, targeting the internally displaced persons sheltered in relief camps with the objective to generate easy cash with short term livelihoods activities. A total 184 inmates of relief camps in Imphal East district alone were benefited by way of wages through these programmes.

Contributing towards the rehabilitation of the inmates of the relief camps, Commissioner of Trade, Commerce & Industries, Government of Manipur, PK Jha assured that the Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Corporation will buy all the products made in the relief camps and give money immediately.

At a time when memories of their houses set ablaze are fresh and people continue to be displaced, other than the economic aspects the dollmaking also help in improving the mental health of the victims of violence by diverting the bad memories to create puffy, beautiful dolls, that give them self-confidence and hope.

KRC TIMES | Promotional