Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 6
Neichute Doulo, CEO and coordinator of Entrepreneurs Associate (EA), Kohima has been declared the Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOP) – India, 2016. Doulo – declared as the winner from a field of five - was handed the prize by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari at a ceremony held in New Delhi on October 6
The other nominees in the running for the award were Shanti Raghavan and Dipesh Sutariya of EnAble India, Bengaluru; Vikas Shah of Water Health India Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad; Mrinalini Kher of Yuva Parivartan/Kherwadi Social Welfare Association (KSWA), Mumbai and Hilmi Quraishi and Subhi Quraishi of ZMQ, New Delhi.
The SEOP is an annual award started by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with Jubilant Bhartia Foundation. The contenders for the award “are evaluated on key parameters of innovation, sustainability, scalability, reach and impact.”
In a post-ceremony video message forwarded to The Morung Express, Doulo described the award as a great accomplishment for Nagaland and the north-east region. Terming it as a “wonderful thing”, which will have a great and positive impact on the region; he extended gratitude to Schwab Foundation and Jubilant Bhartia Foundation for the opportunity while recognising the work of EA.
While stating the recognition will in turn open a lot of openings and opportunities for the youth, he added, “I believe that this will also help the NE region to become an asset to the country and not to be seen as a liability and a region of problems but of opportunities and solutions.” “The world and country recognising our efforts and vision will not only create a better image of Nagaland but will open new doors of opportunities and investments.”
Doulo as one of the main architects of EA, an organisation dedicated to youth empowerment through promotion of entrepreneurship for the last 16 years, has been instrumental in shaping the way Nagas view entrepreneurship. His work through EA has impacted thousands of Naga youths over the years – linking, guiding and acting as business facilitators.
As a student, he sold newspapers before working as a teacher (economics), which he subsequently quit in 2000 to immerse fulltime into his current work. In 2001, he received the International Ashoka Fellow and in the state, he was a recipient of the Naga Mothers Association Award and a Lifetime Achievement award from the Chakhesang Youth Front for his contribution to social change.
Nagaland Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio in a message, while congratulating Doulo’s for his “exemplary leadership and pathbreaking initiative” expressed hope that the award will encourage the EA to strive higher to impact more people, especially the youth.
