Ducks bring Gumoria to national prominence

Gumoria, Oct 17 (UNI) This tiny nondescript village has become an important geographical location after the women here attracted President APJ Abdul Kalam's attention by rearing ducks.

As the Presidential entourage flew in three helicopters this afternoon, a team of flapping ducks seemed to welcome him as he made his way into the village.

The women of this small tribal village have taken the initiative of making themselves self-reliant through rearing of ducks.

An inquisitive President went around the village to meet the tribal women and inquired them about the idea of taking this livelihood.

One of the tribal women said State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) Deputy Director A M M Zakir was the brain behind the project.

The rest is history as now these women send about 10,000 eggs per day to Guwahati and earn a moderate income.

''They are the role models of self-reliance as well as the Centre's self-help group movement,'' Mr Zakir boasted.

Thousands of people poured in from nearby villages to have a glimpse of the country's first citizen, who preferred to walk around the village and mingled with ordinary folks, pushing aside the other VIPs for a moment.

''This is a great opportunity and we are obliged that our humble effort has received national recognition. I hope every Assamese village will have such poultry farms one day so that we do not have to depend on other states for our demand of eggs,'' Purabi Kathar said.

Purabi was the one who first came forward to give a shape to Mr Zakir's idea. She started it all alone and today there are about 50 groups each having around ten members, Mr Zakhir said.

Each of them have around 30 ducks with a total of around 15,000 ducks, he added.

The banks have also played a significant role by giving them financial help at low interest rates and are extremely happy at the progress of this development, Mr Zakhir said.

''Each of us now earn about Rs 1500-2000 per month and have taken the profession like a duck to water,'' said a delighted and self-reliant Purabi.

UNI MT PP PL MS KP1448