Relief camp inmates crochet amigurumi dolls for global mkt

IMPHAL: As part of the ongoing varied skill development programmes taken up for inmates put up at relief camps owing to the unceasing ethnic crisis in Manipur, '1 million Heroes' (1MH) - a global, multi-platform entertainment brand - has begun training the displaced people in crocheting amigurumi dolls for the worldwide market.
Monish Karam from the state founded 1MH in Singapore a few days after the violence broke out in Manipur on May 3.
Amigurumi is essentially the same as crochet, only it refers specifically to the process of making 3D toys. Crochet uses a range of techniques, whereas amigurumi almost always involves working in the round, making spheres which are then stuffed to form the limbs of some adorable little animals.
At present, the doll making training is being imparted to people, mostly women, at five relief camps across the state. This includes a camp in Thoubal district's Khangabok which houses 210 people.
In the unprecedented violence, 175 people were killed, 1,108 injured, 4,786 houses set ablaze and around 50,000 people were forced to take refuge in relief camps and temporary shelter houses in both the valley and hill districts.
At the Khangabok relief camp, 36-year-old Laishram Geeta Leima, mother of three, is one of the trainees. Her house at Sugnu Awang Leikai in Kakching district was attacked by armed miscreants on May 27.
"I've almost mastered the art of crocheting amigurumi dolls. The people at 1MH told us that they are planning ways to provide us revenue out of the sales of these dolls," she said on Saturday.
Another resident from the Sugnu area, Agom Sangeeta Leima, 48, whose village was attacked on May 28 said the doll making training has enhanced her confidence by showing her a way to overcome financial challenges.
"I'm participating in this training programme hoping to earn a certain income. I think learning this skill is beneficial. It could help us generate revenue if we're able to maintain production. They came to help us out and offered to train us. We readily accepted the offer," she added.
1MH's target is to train groups of individuals in five relief camps with each camp specialising in five characters, conceived as the first line of the global amigurumi doll brand. The characters include 'Buddy-the pet Dog', 'Mitten- the Cat', 'Raja-the Tiger, 'Oliver -the Bear' and 'Bola - the Buddy'.
Utpala Longjam, doll artist and master trainer, said, "The programme is going on very well and cochet is not very difficult if you know the basics. Most of them knew the basics. Once they become comfortable with the needle, the crochet and the patterns, we would be providing them with the cotton yarns for the actual product."