Manipur, Jan. 23 -- When they had their first child, the couple slept on rotational basis to watch over the baby.

He works in his paddy field over the low lying hills during the day and weaves beautiful soft cane baskets in his spare time to earn a few money so that he could afford a living. Brimming with pride of running a family by dint of sheer hard work, he makes sure his wife and two children do not go hungry.

However, suffering from poverty for long years, making a living has been hard on Ningthar and his wife, Solomi, of Chingjaroi Khullen in Manipur's Ukhrul district under Jessami block. Their small house was in a dilapidated condition. It could not withstand the heavy downpour of rain during the rainy season. The rooms would be...