Sindh Women Transform Craft Into Commerce At Flood-Ravaged Umerkot Tent City

Pakistan’s monster monsoon — which left the nation’s south deluged — has ravaged Sindh’s Umerkot district. While the district reels after, Sindhi women seek commerce from craft to help make ends meet.

33-year-old Amla, said craftwork was her sole source of income. She said she had been selling handcrafted products including ralli, farassi, sindhi caps, straw products, embroidery and carvings. Amla, who hails from Rana Jagir, said things had been tough since her husband left his job after falling sick. She said she made most from selling ralli. She said one ralli sold anywhere between Rs5,000-8,000

“I have 10-15 permanent clients from different places. There are many avenues available. You can work directly or as a third-party. One can make money sitting at home. It is really helpful for those who don’t want to go anywhere. It is not effortless but presents an easy way of working from the comfort of your own home.”

Nasiban, who was sitting with Amla and doing ralli work, said she was taught how to by her mother. “It requires a lot of time and commitment. The wedding of my elder daughter was scheduled for November, 2022 but the floods left the plan in disarray.” Her resolve, she said, remained high. “I will celebrate my daughter’s wedding in a fitting manner.” Nasiban said she was confident of making enough to do this. The woman said she had not asked anybody for a penny in help even though her family had no option but to camp under the open sky for days.

Misran, proudly showing off a luxurious red and black ralli featuring intricate glasswork, said her relatives were primarily cotton pickers. She said the crop was the worst affected by the floods. “One should be skilled. It comes in handy when emergencies strike. Relying on a single income is bereft of logic. Every family has access now. The world is interlinked. One can easily sell such products using cell phones and the Internet.

Kanhaiya Mohan Lal, who works with an NGO, said the organisation had established a large tent city for those impacted. This, he said, had been done after proper engineering and mapping. Land for the initiative — 125 acres belonged to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Rana Hameer Singh Sodho. Those living in the 2,500 tents made for a diverse mix, he said.

Eight Temporary Learning Centres (TLCs)  will be established with the help of Sindh Education and Literacy Department (SELD) to ensure students’ learning is not disrupted. Playgrounds will be established for children in the tent city’s vicinity too. Goats, sewing machines and carts will be provided to the people once they start returning to encourage small and medium enterprise, he said.

“Don’t think what your country can do for you. Think what you can do for your country,” MPA Sodho said when asked why he had facilitated the establishment of the tent city. Saving people was his priority, he said. He also emphasised the importance of financial independence in such situations.