With the objective of expanding its Project of “Uplifting Women Street Vendors” in the Phek District, Entrepreneurs Associates (EA) in partnership with the Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS) organised a day long workshop for the street vendors on November 26, 2017. The event which was held at Mission Centre, the headquarters of the Chakhesang Baptist Churches Council Pfutsero began with a devotional session which addressed issues concerning women. Speaking to the gathering, Vechulou Kanuo, the Secretary of the CWWS encouraged the women to give their best and stressed that “the Bible also clearly tells us that we need to work and earn our bread”. Vechulou also informed that they formed a very important link in the economic chain of the state.
Reiterating the importance of the women vendors who are the guardians of the indigenous economy Neikule Doulo, Master Franchisee, Aloha Mental Arithmetic also impressed upon on them their contributions to the local trading scene. The fact that they are creating value in the local produces which they mostly source from the remotest sections of the society implies their immense contributions to the livelihood of many rural people. Highlighting the dire need for Nagas to get more involved in entrepreneurial activities she encouraged the women to be the torch bearers in their families and society. Since they are self employed and do not receive monthly salaries she advised that they should “Pay themselves every day or month in the form of keeping aside some amount as savings”.
A detailed input on the need to save and why they should take it up was provided by Welhikro Mero, Branch Manager, EA Phek. He also introduced the various thrift programmes available under EA’s cooperative wing, EATACOL and encouraged them to participate in some of them.
About 60 women vendors from different marketing areas of the town participated in the first phase of the initiative at Pfutsero. Many of them admitted that this was perhaps their first time in such a programme which has thrown light to a new perspective of their work. Some of the women vendors also pledged to begin the process of keeping some money aside regularly for their future.
The interactions with these vendors also highlighted many difficulties faced by them regularly as they work under the harshest of working conditions. Absence of toilets and basic amenities like water supply in and around their work place are main problems for those who sell around the town. Meanwhile a large number of the women are also involved in transporting their goods to Kohima or Dimapur and they also communicated the complications caused in the absence of good public transport systems. Most of the vendors revealed that they travel through the “NST Night super bus” unable to afford hiring of private vehicles even though there are obvious risks of break downs at any place owing to the bad roads as well as the poor conditions of the vehicles. The scale of their business is also very small and yet arriving at the urban centres they are again subject to taxations from municipal committees and various groups.
The women therefore suggested that the state machinery as well as organisations working in the development sector should take stock of their problems and come up with some positive measures to help them.
Source: Katalyst
