SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 28: Bamboo of Agartala and high rise grass of Parasnath hilly terrain would bail out primitive Birhor tribe of Dhanbad from penury.
Birhor tribe members in Chalkari of Dhanbad would make eco-friendly brooms for earning livelihood. A principal of Dhanbad based school has lined up a supply of bamboo from Agartala (Tripura) and grass from Parasnath (Giridih) hilly forest for the project.
The Bamboo handle of Agartala forest is considered high quality for broom making while the high rise grass of Parasnath hilly terrain is ideal for sweeping.
Since, the Birhor community is skilled in making ropes and baskets, broom business would be double profitable for them in comparison to other products.
The project is the brain child of Ashutosh Kumar, the principal of DAV Public School Sindri, who has been working for the welfare of Birhor tribe members of Chalkari village for the last 15 years. He has lined up with the divisional forest officer (DFO) Agartala for supplying the bamboo handles to Birhor of Dhanbad.
Chalkari village of Birhor tribe, situated in hilly terrain of Parasnath around 40 km away from district headquarters, has a population of merely 250 members and survive on daily wage work in the area.
“I am trying to make them self reliant by launching this project. The DFO of Agartala is extending full support in it. Birhor members are skilled and the broom cottage industry could increase their income,” said Ashutosh Kumar, the principal.
A quality broom is being sold at Rs 80-90 in the market. They would get the Bamboo handle of Agartala for broom at maximum Rs 5-6 per piece only while natural high rise broom grass is available free of cost in nearby hilly terrain of the village.
The members of the primitive Birhor community are upbeat about the project.
“We would definitely enforce all our strength in the broom project as it would bring money while sitting at home,” said Suwar Birhor, chief of the tribe.
The tribe members also make grass rope and bamboo baskets but do not get the real price and have to give it to local agents at throw-away price as markets are far away from their village.
“Besides giving raw material, I am also trying to provide them a platform in the local markets so that they can get a genuine price of their products,” said the principal Ashutosh Kumar.
