सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Gorkha. Pasang Nima Sherpa, who had wandered from Silichong in Bhojpur 35 years ago in search of employment, found work in a Nepali handmade paper industry in Taplejung. After being saddened by the loss of his family, he left his village in search of a job and was undecided about what to do.
After leaving the handmade paper industry, he went to Bajura in search of work again. Pasang found work in Bajura, but there too in the handmade paper industry. After some time, he left Bajura and went to Surkhet and again ended up in the paper industry. ‘There were no more people who could work in that industry, I reached there when the industry was looking for people, they said let’s stay and I worked there for about a year and a half,’ he said, recalling the past. 22 years ago, after working for six years in a factory run by his father in Chepekhola, on the border of Gorkha and Lamjung, he got the courage to run the factory himself.
He sought a loan of about five lakh rupees and started running a handmade paper factory. Now, the annual turnover is between 15 and 20 lakhs,’ he said. ‘I have given regular employment to five people, and there are many people who collect raw materials (lokta) during the season.’
He said that around a hundred people collect lokta during Chait-Baishakh. ‘After preparing and sending the documents, the workers bring the lokta collected in Dharche, Chumanubri, Ajirkot and other areas to the factory,’ Pasang said. ‘They also return after realizing more than 150 per kilo.’
Nepali paper produced by the Gorkha Manakamana Nepali Handmade Paper Industry operated by Pasang in Nayabasti, Gorkha Municipality-6, is in high demand in the market. ‘Most of them come to the industry to buy paper, sometimes they send money first and say that I need this much material, after which I send the paper from here,’ said Pasang.
He has been operating the industry by renting land. Pasang’s industry produces 10 to 20 ‘tons’ of paper annually. The Nepali handmade paper produced is sold for up to 3,500 for four kilos. “We have not yet been able to meet the market demand,” said Pasang. “The demand is also higher because the Nepali paper produced in Gorkha is better and does not rot as quickly as other places because the raw materials are available.”
The Pasang industry is currently producing Nepali paper weighing 20 to 60 grams. He has sent his two daughters abroad to study while running the industry. He said that it would be even easier if the local government also supported small and cottage industries.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्