A total of 206 women from over 10 different villages attended first ever meeting of women street vendors at Mon.
Mon, February 9 (MExN): The first ever meeting of women street vendors at Mon under the banner of ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors’, was jointly organized by Entrepreneurs Associates (EA) and the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Mon with the support of Capri Global Capital Limited.
A total of 206 women from over 10 different villages attended the programme and they were sensitized on the need to organize themselves for future business growth, stated a press release received here.
The programme held at the Council Hall, Mon was chaired by Sangki Konyak B, stewardess, Indigo Flight and began with a prayer spelled by Nyamjo Konyak, Women Pastor, KBCM.
EA Administrative Coordinator, Yutho Sangtam highlighted the history of the organization and activities undertaken by the organization to promote entrepreneurship and livelihood development across Nagaland and beyond. Sharing about the concern that EA had for the well-being of the women at large and street vendors in particular, Yutho encouraged the women to improve their businesses through better planning and management.
The pandemic has been very difficult for the women vendors as they work in unorganized markets, in the absence of proper working spaces, running water and toilets. Taking all these into consideration, Dr Rongsennungla, Deputy CMO, Mon advised the women to pay special care to their own health as they are the primary care givers for their families.
Dr Rongsennungla mentioned that during this pandemic period, it was crucial that they maintain proper hygiene as they are exposed to a large number of customer’s daily in the market places.
The CMO also briefed them about additional measures they should take to keep themselves safe and healthy.
Chingyak Konyak, NCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mon, and Administrator Mon Town Councilencouraged the women to continue doing their work and not beashamed about their profession, as it ensures healthy food for individuals and families.He also highlighted the efforts being undertaken by the administration for the well-being of vendors which includes construction of new toilets, new marketing space and facilitation of the PMSVA Nidhi loan. The ADC also stated that the district administration will continue to do support the women while also requesting the women to take responsibility for the facilities and opportunities offered to them. Thanking EA for bringing the program to Mon, he encouraged the vendors to connect with the organization to leverage themselves.
This year, EA has the ambitious plan to take the program for Women Vendors to all the districts of Nagaland and 4 districts in Manipur. Till date the programme has trained and supported 4000 women vendors from the two states. Through the program, EA along with Capri Global Capital Limited is also been providing interest free loans to emerge from the COVID 19 pandemic and revive their businesses. EA has also been providing markets and better networks to women vendors across the state since the launch of the program in 2017. The programme is slowly reaching out to women producers and farmers who form an integral part of the supply chain and envisions launching some programs for them soon, it stated.
The next program will be held on February 16 in Jalukie town.
