A friend in Delhi had several Myki products in her kitchen. Dry Ginger powder, dried Bamboo shoot, Anishi, Gooseberries cooked in sugar and dried, dried Roselle, wood apples, turmeric, chilli and so on. I asked her about the products and she couldn't stop singing the praises of Myki. 'The packaging is so good that when I travel, if I put the items among my clothes they never stain them or begin to smell.' As my friend went on and on, I wanted to remark, 'Hoito, moi bhi bitor manu ase to.' I am a big fan of Myki and the excellent work they have been doing ever since their inception. Out of the many government departments, the Women Resource Development office can truly be said to be doing a marvelous job for women.
The products speak for themselves where excellence is concerned. The most attractive item is the mobile sling bag with a strap and embroidered front. The bag is big enough to fit a mobile phone, some money and a handkerchief. Ideal for church or short trips to town. The high point of the sling bags is the exquisite embroidery on the front made with a careful colour combination that is at once tasteful and stylish. Sling bags also come as woven pieces with delicate tassels. They make very good gifts.
I was given a tour of the main Myki office where they have their shop outlet and administrative block. In separate rooms we found women in different age groups working together. At one table five women were working on the exquisite beadwork that lines their mekhelas. At another table, four middle aged women were knitting scarves and sweaters. There was sunshine streaming in from the window and the women enjoyed the welcome warmth. In the next room we met the designers behind the well loved Myki designs. These were young Naga men who had graduated from prestigious schools of design and returned home to use their skills and talents for a home audience.
Myki even has a weaving section housing both loom and loin loom. In itself, it is run like a small factory with precision. Here was something we could all be proud of. There was such camaraderie among the women working together. It was highly encouraging to see. In this day as low income families struggle to put food on the table, Myki is shining a bright beacon of hope in the darkness. Myki has a pay per product scheme for skilled workers. The prices of the various items are very reasonable. That is another point that makes Myki items very popular. They are affordable and make great gifts.
The Myki shop also encourages women entrepreneurs by selling books and products by Naga women. Something remarkable is the support that the project gets from its male project officers. There is a healthy male presence that is encouraging, creative, and very supportive of the women officers and their many ideas. This healthy balance was a treat to observe in a department of this kind. Jokingly we observed that it was probably just as important to start a section called Mota that could beneficially employ men in similar creative work.
Myki designs are very innovative. Some designs become more popular than others. For example, one of the bags was designed as a travel bag that could be used as cabin baggage. It is spacious and sturdy with many pockets that come in handy. Young mothers have given the bag new life as a diaper change bag.
It just goes to show that Myki products live their lives serving multipurposes. Myki products are made to last. They carefully choose fabrics for their tote bags with an eye to beauty and lasting quality. There is a lot to praise about Myki but if you don't believe me, you are most welcome to make a trip to their outlet and see for yourselves. Amen.
