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‘Uplifting women street vendors program’ reaches Pughoboto town
Pughoboto, February 3 (MExN): According to a “rough survey” conducted by Entrepreneurs Associates (EA), it is estimated that about 30,000 women are engaged in street vending local products across the state.
Inorder to uplift this section of women in Nagaland, the EA has been initiating the ‘uplifting women street vendors program’ as part of the series of trainings and workshops that addresses the needs of local women street vendors, who form a vital part of the chain, of supplying fruits and vegetables to urban households.
A press release received here stated that the EA has so far trained over 4000 women street vendors, micro-entrepreneurs and women farmers across Nagaland and Manipur since the launch of the program in October 2017.
Recently, the EA along with the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner Pughoboto, Zunheboto district and supported by Capri Global Capital Limited organized the ‘uplifting women street vendors program’ at Pughoboto town.
The training at Pughoboto was attended by women street vendors, farmers and entrepreneurs from the town and the neighbouring villages. To drive home the need for organizing their businesses and finances better, for improving their living standards, the training focused on creating awareness about the importance of their livelihoods and stress on financial literacy.
Highlighting the history of EA which began in 2000 in a small one roomed office in Kohima, EA Advisor, Neikule Doulo shared that as of 2022, EA now works in Nagaland and Manipur with branch offices across the states.
Neikule stated that the ‘uplifting women street vendors program’ started due to the keen interest of the organization to help women scale their businesses and improve their lives which will directly impact their families and communities. She encouraged the women to give importance to the work they do and strive to do it well. She also shared some of the current initiatives of the organization, specially mentioning the Interest Free Loans for street vendors, which EA is providing with some of its partners.
Emphasizing on the importance of savings and proper budgeting, Senti Walling, Branch Manager, Nagaland Rural Bank, Pughoboto shared some tips to help the women manage their finances better. He pointed out some schemes which could be beneficial for the women while also advising them to maintain financial discipline to be eligible for such facilities.
Exhorting the women to conduct their businesses with pride and self-worth, Thungchanbemo Tungoe, ADC, Pughoboto stressed on the role that vendors are playing in local economies. He urged them to avail support wherever they can to improve their living standards and help their family progress. Reiterating the importance of a mother’s role in families and their significant impact in the lives of those around them, the ADC shared that there is dignity in every kind of job, with every job playing a vital role in societies.
Earlier, the programme chaired by Keren Swu, Incubation Lead, EA and prayer was pronounced by Kipitoli Shohe, Children Pastor, Pughoboto Baptist Church.
The next program will be in Mon on February 9 followed by Jalukie town on February 16.
