July 2019 │ │ 77In the initial years, she was working extensively
in the remote areas of Tripura and then extended to
other states such as Gujarat. When her work started
receiving attention, various government bodies started
reaching out to her. Eventually, she came to work with
communities in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala,
and Meghalaya, among others. She helped bring quite
a change in the lives of the impoverished unemployed
in the Northeast, so much so that she came to be
regarded as the ‘Bamboo Lady of the Northeast’.
A Neglected Gem
Oil, coal, and natural gas are resources that are
highly regarded across the planet but bamboo is often
overlooked. ‘Nobody cares about bamboo like they do
for other natural resources. People need to recognize
that bamboo is also a big source of energy, and I’m
fighting to make that happen.’ There is no doubt that
the Northeast can benefit from utilizing bamboo to its
true potential as it is plentiful in the region, but she is
also certain that bamboo can be an important resource
for the whole nation.
Since ages, bamboo has always been a resource
that could be adapted to different human needs from
storage to construction. ‘Nowadays people are used
to storing things in plastic boxes, but back in the
day, people used to keep valuables in bamboo boxes
instead.’ Apart from generating awareness about
bamboo, she also had to ensure that artisans of the
craft receive proper wage and respect for the hard
labour that they put into their creations. Therefore,
Sarmah helped them directly sell their work in
the bigger markets across the region without the
interference of a middleman.
The True Growth
Sarmah works with more than 20 NGOs all over
India. Even though she has helped hundreds realize
their dream of becoming self-reliant, she still has to
put up with people who make fun of her low earnings
in spite of her skills and talent. But she remains
undeterred. ‘The artisans earn from the craft and
give me whatever they want to, and that is all that I
earn. My motive is not to become rich, but to reach
remote areas and guide or encourage the people. They
should be the ones who make money. I have enough
for myself.’ She is content in providing livelihood to
people, especially empowering young girls in villages
who are usually married off at a young age.
One of the biggest reasons why she wanted to help
people in remote villages was because she thought
‘You can offer me `100 crores,
but even then I will not alter from
my path. I will continue skilling
villagers and helping people realize
the true potential of bamboo’alcoholism in villages was leading to dangerous
circumstances. ‘People in the villages would spend
whatever money they would get on alcohol, which
would lead to mental illnesses and depression.’ She
wanted them to be more engaged and practise a craft
that would distract them from bad habits.
In the Northeast, Tripura has been a battlefield.
‘Due to lack of awareness and literacy, I have had to
face quite a few challenges but I continue to fight.’ She
was also approached by the Meghalaya government
to conduct four workshops.
To no surprise, the job has not been an easy one,
but Sarmah is adamant about bringing a change.
‘I stay in villages where there are no toilets, and
no running water. I need to carry sleeping bags
wherever I go. People always ask me how I manage.
But I am determined to follow through on the idea.’
She shares that the inspiration to keep going, despite
the obstacles, comes from her father. ‘My father has
always been passionate about social work. Looking
at him, I thought that my life should be meaningful.
We are always doing things for ourselves. Why not do
something for others?’The Blooming Future
She has received invitations from Bangladesh and
Nepal, but before she takes her talent elsewhere, she
first wants to improve rural employment in India.
‘India is massive and there are places that I haven’t
touched yet. So, my endeavour will not stop.’ No
one can say what the future holds, but one thing is
certain, Sarmah will keep fighting. She may not have
any superhuman abilities but she is a hero in her
own right. A hero who hopes to help more and more
unemployed people find their purpose and become
self-reliant. A hero that the Northeast, and India,
desperately needs.