Rignai, a traditional cloth of tribal women in Tripura, also known as Pasara, will no longer be woven by the tribal women or their own use from today .
Sucheta Jamatiya, a 30- year old tribal woman coordinator of Farmers Club,, guided by NABARD, working for development of tribal farmers here in Khupilong area under Killa R.D Block, said the price of Rignai is very high in the market. It is available at a price of Rs 1000 to Rs 8000 in the local market and hence becomes very difficult for the poor tribal women to purchase it from the market. As Rignai is the traditional dress of the tribals and they cannot afford it, they weave it at home.
Arati Karnya Jamatiya, a 42-year old tribal woman under BPL category, doing MGNREGA work gets a meagre amount of Rs: 172, residing at Twirupabari village under Killa R.D Block, informed that the price of yarn in the market is very high and it is difficult for them to purchase it from local market but there is no option also.
“ It is very difficult to make a Rignai now a days because it takes minimum one to two months to complete it and the minimum cost of production is Rs 1000 for making a normal Rignai”, said Arati.
Pijush Debbarma, a staff of Killa R.D Block under Gomati District, said Rignai is a large piece of cloth and women cover themselves with it.The cloth drops till the knees and covers across the waist. Risa is the top part and designed it with beautiful embroideries. At the time of working outside, women wear headgears to protect themselves.
“ Rignai is a traditional dress of the tribals but there is no initiative to weave it from business point of view but it has demand in the market.No machine has been developed till today which can weave Rignai but since it has demand initiative should be taken to produce it”, said Pijush Debbarma who is from tribal family and doing government job.
