Indigenous weavers at Birishiri cry for help

An indigenous woman doing embroidery to produce a fashionable dress at the factory run by Birishiri Bahumuki Mahila Samabay Samiti. PHOTO: STAR

Fifty-five year old Binodini Rama, a Garo women, who took initiatives a decade back to preserve and promote traditional indigenous costumes could not hide her dissatisfaction while talking to this correspondent.

"I was given the Prime Minister's Award as a successful organiser of small industries in 2003 but no assistance to develop the sector", he lamented.

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"We did not get any loan either from bank or from any NGO", she said.

In 1985, Binodini Rama launched the Birishiri Bahumuki Mahila Samabaya Samity and set up a small weaving factory at Birishiri in Durgapur upazila in the district with only five loom and 10 weavers.

Now the looms have increased to 40 and the weavers to 60. They make traditional dress of indigenous Garo, Hajong, Koch, Banai, Hadi people, living in different areas of greater Mymensingh district.

Birishiri is a small hill town, known as a centre for activities of indegenous people of greater Mymensingh. The Birishiri Tribal Cultural Academy is also located there.

Rama said she is trying to promote and preserve traditional dresses as the Cultural Academy is trying to promote their culture.

Rama said, "I established this factory to preserve the traditions when the indigenous people were losing those".

She is also the Managing Director of factory. " I never think about profit. I always think how to develop the factory and improve lifestyle of indigenous women".

Rama said there is good demand for our products in and outside the country. But we face a lot of hassles in export. Even foreigners come to visit our factory. But we can not supply as per their designs and demands, he said. These need funds for development of skill and technology.

Supta Rama, Director of the factory, said, " We have two show rooms-- one in Birishiri Bazar and the other in Mymensingh town.

"We need at least five show rooms in greater Mymensingh only to promote the products," she added.

"We know our products will be of good demand if we can have a show roon in Dhaka. But we can not do that for lack of funding", she said.

Anjali Sangma, a supervisor at the factory, said more looms and workers should be added right now.

The factory produces Dakmanda and Dakshari (traditional dress of Garo people), shirt, bedsheet, tablecloth etc.