Temjenmongla at her saw mill in Kapayong Sector of Mokokchung town. (Morung Photo)
Limasenla Jamir
Mokokchung | March 7
Temjenmongla is a 60-year-old business woman who has been running a saw mill for the past sixteen years. She started the business with her husband in 2005 to help run their family. When her husband passed away in 2015, she took up the responsibility of taking care of her family all by herself.
As a woman, it was unconventional to run a saw mill all by herself. However, with no other means, she stood up during the darkest times of her life and did not give up on running their family’s saw-mill.
With three children to take care of, Temjenmongla used her skills and expertise in the wood business which she learned from her husband for survival.
It is intriguing to watch her deal with her customers, who are mostly male, with so much knowledge and expertise.
“She knows what she is doing. Our old aunty knows every type of wood that comes to her mill. She can measure the size and length of a wood just by looking at it,” said one of the workers in the mill. “But to bargain with her, you need to have a special set of skills,” he added with a laughter.
Temjenmongla has three workers under her and also the saw mill’s mechanised furniture unit located at Kapayong Sector of Mokokchung town.
“I start my day as early as six in the morning, especially during peak seasons, and end by four in the evening. I handle all customers and I help with piling and cutting of wood in the mill. I also do all the cleaning and clearing job in the mill,” said Temjenmongla when asked about her role in the mill. “With age, I am unable to do carry and cut the heavy woods in the mill, but I do help with the smaller and lighter logs,” she added.
One of the major problems she said was the amount of tax she has to pay to the many unions and organizations. She counted up to six different groups whom she pays tax every year. “Running a business is difficult with the number of taxes we have to pay. I am not running this mill so that I will become rich, but I am doing this so that our family can live a comfortable life,” she remarked.
“Instead of working for others or depending on someone for our livelihood, it is always better to work for oneself and be self-sufficient,” she further added.
With winters being the peak season for cutting woods, she said that during winters, on an average, she deals with about 100 different customers in a week. With the mill being located near to the town, she receives maximum customers from the town area.
“Certain jobs in our society have a male face, and this kind of stereotype does not serve our society. Otsu Temjenmongla is one woman who has been able to shatter the glass ceiling and break the bias. Of course, there is unconscious bias associated with the nature of her work but I believe she has never let that biasness affect her,” said Lanu Pongen, a neighbour and daily customer at her saw mill.
On this International women’s day, we salute women like Temjenmongla who are breaking the bias with their skill set and expertise in various aspects of life and uplifting and inspiring women through their life stories.
