Hard work never fails you

Repfusayi Chuzho, a 32 year old is an ordinary man. He is also a self-made man who earns his livelihood through crafting of cups, plates and mortar pestle. Repfusayi was a drop out student of Class 9 from Government High School, Kohima and later came to Dimapur. He learnt about wood crafting when he came to Diezephe along with his family and chose to become a self-employed. “Going to paddy field isn’t my job,” says Repfusayi.

During the initial stage, he started with crafting of key chains, spoons etc. Once the work was established, Repfusayi purchased machines, which boosted his business. Now, Repfusayi says that he works day and night according to his convenience and comfort. He makes around 100 to 120 mortal pestle, cups and around 20 plates a week. Today, he sells the finished products for price ranging from 200 to 500 rupees per set.

While sharing that after deducting all the miscellaneous expenses, he earns around 5000 rupees in a month, Repfusayi also laments, “if I am not lazy, I would earn more than 12,000 rupees in a month.”

He also hires people for help and pays them on contract basis.

Repfusayi says that he uses only Teak wood to craft the products. However, he says, “Since it takes around 20 years for a Teak tree to grow, sometime there is shortage of resources when the demands are high.”

Most of his works are done with the order from the buyer who usually buy the finished products from him and sell in their own shop or resale to others. Repfusayi also says that many people in and around the locality do the same crafting work. However, some sell it in their village or keep for personal use.

“I run my business at home, so there is no disturbance from the government side or the private taxes,” states Repfusayi. However, lack of electricity worries him at time since it keeps his work pending.

Repfusayi, who has a family with three children, says that he must manage financially to send two of his children to school but sometimes he faces problem to pay off their tuition fee. Nonetheless, Repfusayi in a hopeful note, says, “If I have the material, I can look after my family.”

Encouraging young people to follow his footstep of learning skills and earn livelihood instead of complaining, Repfusayi says, “Hard work is the key to success and nothing can be done without that.  Forget about laziness, you have to earn some money if you have to look after your family.”