Tales from the Eastern Districts

Polmuddai (Population: 15,000) is a quaint coastal settlement located 55 kilometres from Trincomalee, in the East of Sri Lanka. The area has been the scene of recent battles between the militants and Sri Lankan forces. Accessibility by road is circuitous and it takes two ferry rides before one reaches the settlement from Trincomalee. The journey takes over three hours due to the treacherous roads with scores of checkpoints.

The population of Polmuddai is predominantly Muslim (90%), with the remainder being an almost equal sprinkling of Tamils and Sinhalese.

A A Cader is the leader of Rural Development Society (a CBO in Polmuddai that focuses primarily on the rehabilitation of women). He is also the vice-principal of a local school and a member of the Pradeshya Sabha (the local governing body). The CBO has been given US$ 15,000 as a grant from SSGF.

With this funding, the CBO has dug wells in two villages. Besides, women have been trained in tailoring and equipped with sewing machines. Fishing nets, with which the male members of the CBO trawl for prawns in the lagoon, have also been made available.

Sixteen-year old Fathima Rinoza, one of the tailoring beneficiaries, was taught the basics of tailoring at home and been provided with a sewing machine. She lost her father before the tsunami and has to support her two younger sisters and a differently-abled brother. This responsibility compelled her to discontinue studies at the secondary level itself. She specialises in stitching attire that is sought after by members of her community - abayas and salwar kameezes. She cuts the fabric herself and charges Rs 100 (US$ 0.98) for tailoring an outfit, which typically takes her one day.

Sulaiha Umma is a 63-year-old woman whose family lost its house and property in the tsunami. When the tsunami stuck, her husband was casting his net for fish. The shock traumatised him so much that he became seriously ill and died.

Despite receiving Rs 5,000 (US$ 49) as an SSGF grant, Sulaiha spent most of it on food, because she had no other means to survive. When she had just Rs 1,000 (US$ 9.80) left, she met some ladies who make coconut oil – and, using that money as an initial investment, bought a few coconuts. That was the commencement of a cottage industry for her.

Sulaiha cuts coconut kernel and dries it in the sun. Thereafter, she takes the ferry to the neighbouring village, where she personally supervises the grinding to ensure that her coconut oil is free of adulteration. Finally, she returns to her village, where she boils the oil and sells each bottle of pure coconut oil for Rs 130 (US$ 1.27). Demand is good, but business fortunes vary based on the availability of coconuts. Sulaiha’s ambition is to start a shop selling coconut oil and other provisions, for which she needs Rs 50,000 (US$ 490).

Kinniya, a small peninsula accessible by ferry, is located fifteen kilometres South-West of Trincomalee. The small town, which was badly affected by the tsunami, has a 100,000-strong population consisting predominantly of Muslims (97%).

A K F Rishana, who is in her early twenties, mobilized a team of ten seamstresses who already knew some tailoring. Each of them received an SSGF grant of Rs 10,000 (US$ 98) through an NGO called ASAD (Association for Social Activities Development) Foundation. The money was used to buy six sewing machines and necessary materials like fabric, buttons and bows. This CBO has enough work within the community of women around them itself; there is no need to prospect for work. The girls are conservative, contented with tailoring the abaya and hijab, and have no intention of diversifying into fashion garments.

Talking of her experience, Rishana says, “Although I knew a little tailoring, I did not think of it as a profession. But when we lost everything, it was time for me to start contributing to the family’s coffers. We formed this CBO because the team concept is better than doing it as an individual. I am grateful to SSGF and the ASAD Foundation who gave us training, machines and textiles. I am proud to have received management training in accounting and marketing techniques, which has helped us to do this business.”