Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | May 22
Kutholuyi would not have imagined that a mere sum of Rs. 700 would change his entire course of life. But this was exactly what it took to lead him to a career, which, he has grown to love over the last ten years. “I came to Kohima with this small amount, just enough to cover my fare from my village”, he begins, while recalling his life changing journey from Sakraba to the state capital. “The money wasn’t even mine but a borrowed one”, he confesses. But this one decision has clearly impacted his life in more ways than one.
Looking back on that phase in 2009, he says, “having given up on my studies, I also felt more responsible for my life and initially stayed at my brother’s place for a period of 6 months.” This was the period where he learnt the dynamics of construction. Soon enough, he was able to support himself and moved to a rented house. With time and experience, he has realized more and more that working in this sector is his only ambition.
Further talking about work, he expresses, “with practice you get better…first observe and then learn.”
He also enlightens that, “it is important to know the shapes and sizes of the stones in a profession like mine” even as his expressions show his passion, and the contentment he derives from the job. The 27-year old is also into carpentry and tiling apart from masonry. He married in 2012 and has two daughters.
His construction partner is Mutsive, who acquainted himself with both wood and stonework early in life having been introduced to it at the tender age of thirteen. Mutsive hails from Porba village under Phek district and recalls learning the traits from his elder brother. He may be only 24 years of age, but already has years of experience doing stonework. “This is our only means of livelihood and if we don’t go and earn something out of it, we can’t survive”, he states.
But that is not to say he does not enjoy it. “I studied only up to Class 2 and I can’t read or write, but in my line of work, our pencil is the hammer”, he puts across. Stonework, he says is ‘very tiring’ but impresses upon that he would still pick this over any other occupation. Not only is he skilled in masonry but also does tiling, painting and carpentry from time to time.
Mutsive is a father to two daughters and affirms that he will continue to work in the construction sector so long as health permits him.
Kutholuyi and Mutsive started working together soon after they met in the later part of 2009. Ever since, they have built homes together, worked on numerous projects and continue to impact lives through the skills they have acquired through many years of experience.
*Year of Construction Workers (YOCW) is a joint program of the Government of Nagaland in partnership with YouthNet, Zynorique and the Department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
