Tongpok Pongen of Aliba village owns and manages Grand Craft Collection, which is located in Sangtemla ward, close to the Sangtemla ward traffic island in Mokokchung Town. The store sells traditional kitchen utensils and cutlery made of bamboo and wood.
Tongpok began crafting by himself as a child, only to realize that he could make a career out of it. However, it took him a while to perfect himself in his crafts.
And it was this year, around the month of June, Tongpok decided to open his store after receiving encouragement from his friend Tialemla and unwavering support from his parents and his entire family.
And, much to his surprise, the sale went much better than he expected, and he hopes to grow his business over time.
In an interview to Mokokchung Times, he said, ”Since government jobs are not for everyone, and as someone who has always wanted to do such crafting, I thought, why not try to earn through my work and become self-reliant?”
He also stated that with the recent plastic ban imposed in Mokokchung and throughout the country, he believes that this type of craft may be a better alternative.
“I understand that plastics are cheaper, but unlike plastics that are mass-produced by machines in industries, such handicrafts require a large human force and a lot of dedication, hard work, and time, so I believe it is impossible to be as cost-effective as plastics,” he added.
However, he believes that if the government or an interested organization can lend a hand and subsidize such production, it can not only save the environment but also create a lot of jobs.
