Atong, Sunep, Peter
The Rig Wood Enterprise is a self- reliance project, started with the purpose of promoting self-employment to the youths, particularly the skilled ones in the art of woodwork by providing a platform to polish their in-born skills. Carpentry work involves a lot of hard work, apart from being skillful and creative. The cutting of timber, shaping and transforming them into appropriate sizes and shapes as required is not a child’s play.
Nagas, from time immemorial, were gifted with the talent of handworks. The skill that was passed from generation to generation has begun to slowly fade away from our present society. But it seems that it took a new turn right here in The Rig Wood Enterprise.
The Rig Wood Enterprise is managed alone by Nixon, a young enthusiastic entrepreneur. The conceptualization of such an enterprise flashed to his mind when he saw his father dealing with logs and making huge profits. “I thought when there is assessability of timber, why not use it to meet our own ends, provide jobs to the unemployed youths especially from my village and also train them in the art of carpentry?” And so with this little dream he started the enterprise.
The workshop is located at Walford, Dimapur and the enterprise is presently running with nine workers of which they are all Naga youths. He also says that he would prefer employing local youths knowing fully well that there are many skilled persons who have no avenues to pursue their talent. Nixon also knows the growing problem of unemployment among the Naga youths. Normally skilled workers earn up to rupees fifteen to sixteen thousand per month and the trainees are provided with all the basic necessities like fooding and lodging.
The Timbers for making the furniture’s are usually supplied from Ukhrul and they mostly consist of Teak and Mahagony and also some other cheaper quality of wood. However, the customers often go for the cheaper wood products and only a few opts for expensive ones made out of teaks and others, the entrepreneur says with a smile. Usually people go for the best looking design at the cheapest rate. The finished products range from stools, chairs, dinning tables and even multi-designed beds and wardrobes, mostly designed according to the taste and choice and the demand of the customer.
The Rig Wood Enterprise is already set to be a role model for the generation next and also for the talented ones in the field of wood art. They have always satisfied the wants of the customer with their finished products. Such types of local enterprise should be encouraged by one and all and the government should provide grand-in-aid to the local entrepreneurs for their development. If all the Naga educated unemployed youths could take up one or the other such projects, then employment would not be a problem.