The North East Project is a collection of merchandise that spreads message on human trafficking. The products are made from fabric which is woven by NE communities who are at a greater risk of being trafficked. Shrabasti Mallik reports
A lot has been said and done about raising awareness on human trafficking and subsequent punishment if caught. Yet, the criminal activity continues to plague the lesser advanced pockets of the country. While rural areas are prone to this evil, the Northeast is no exception. The seven states have more than 10 tribes which are an easy target to trafficking. The North East Project (NEP) launched recently at Bhane, is an endeavour to raise awareness about their vulnerability to trafficking.
The project is a collection of merchandise that raises awareness on the issue of trafficking. The products are created by using tribal patterns on cotton from the Northeast region. “The results are diverse and harmonious. Products include travel accessories, furniture, clothing and shoes,” said Harjoth Singh, director of Impulse Social Enterprise, who established the project.
Impulse Social Enterprise is headed by Hasina Kharbhih who has been working in the region to eliminate the rampant trafficking of young girls, women and men alike. They have not only rescued trafficked people but have also attempted to provide them employment and have tried to establish them in society. “People, especially the tribes in the Northeast are so susceptible to being trafficked. They are so poor that they do not give a second thought before sending their daughters or sons to bigger cities, in prospect of a better future. They fail to realise that the people they are entrusting their kids to, do things which are beyond imagination. Those who are trafficked are not only forced to be a part of the sex trade but in some cases their organs are sold and they are made to work as bonded labourers,” Hasina said.
The collective is an attempt to generate awareness on human trafficking by creating and selling exclusive bespoke products. The material of the finished products is produced by members of communities considered to be at a higher risk of being trafficked. Hasina informed, “Revenues from the sale of products will be split and the larger chunk will be distributed among the craftsmen.” The collection includes products like ladies’ apparel (tops and skirts), travel accessories (baggage tags, toiletry bags, passport cases, currency folios), select furnishings (tablemats, napkins, chair-upholstery) and footwear (juttis).
Hasina is hopeful of the project’s success. She said, “Our collection will actively continue to develop collaboration with leading design houses and explore tremendous synergies between organic material, human creativity, value chain innovation and scalable solutions for social problems. The outcome will result in a meaningful and sustainable deterrent to human trafficking problem and simultaneously provide leading design houses with an inspiring canvas to project their talents and develop extraordinary creations.”
For the purpose, NEP has collaborated with a few fashion houses from Delhi. Some of them are Safomasi (home furnishing and textile design studio), 1701 (leather boutique for hand crafted products), NorBlack NorWhite (urban street wear brand inspired by indigenous culture) and Fizzy Goblet (shoe company with a modern take on traditional Indian footwear). Harjoth said, “The reason why NEP is set up in Bhane is because it is a brand that celebrates simplicity and individuality. Plus, it was one brand which shared the rising concern of human trafficking and was eager enough to lend a helping hand.”
photos Sanjeev Kumar