HT Correspondent 

KOKRAJHAR, July 15: While the state-wide lockdown amid Covid-19 pandemic has brought the state to a standstill, a group of girls from a Kokrajhar-based Nedan Foundation NGO are making full use of the available time to produce organic pickles with locally available fruits including mango. What’s adding to their success story is that the pickles are getting a good response in the market. Nearly 35 girl members of Destination Girls Home, an institution run by the non-profit Nedan Foundation near Chandrapara in Kokrajhar, have been taking the initiative to prepare the pickles and in the process opening up an opportunity to earn some income for themselves.

Notably, the girls who are involved with pickle-making are rescued survivors from different situations across the country. They are also continuing their higher education in different schools, colleges from the Girls Home. The organic pickle-making idea was started in 2020 during the nationwide lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 and in 2021, five different types of fruits and Rossele leaves pickles are making a huge name in the market.

In-charge of the Destination Girls Home, Gwthar Basumatary informed that the idea is to make the members of the NGO skilled in making pickles of various types as well as to raise some funds to manage their home and continue studies. “We have produced over 500 kg of pickles so far. Members of the NGO are selling these pickles and we are getting good response from the market,” the in-charge of Destination Girls Home added.

“Anyone interested can also collect the pickles from the office of the NGO at Kadamtola in Kokrajhar. Very soon, these pickles in attractive bottles will be displayed on our Facebook page and website so that people can buy them online as well,” she added.