Uplifting women street vendors

Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 7

As part of a project to strengthen and boost the business of women street vendors, The Entrepreneurs Associate (tEA) handed away interest-free loans to 8 women vendors at a programme in Dimapur on November 7. 

According to Neikule Doulo, Head of Communications, tEA, the objective is to sensitise women street vendors on the importance of financial literacy. While the tEA’s initial focus on the youth, Doulo said that women vendors largely remain stagnant in the business without growth. “We realised that there is lack of financial literacy and management women vendors,” she said.

She recalled that tEA began focusing in this area in 2017, beginning with the training of 16 women vendors. It also began assisting the vendors via a micro financing programme, in which endeavour it was supported by Capri Global Capital Limited. At present, she said that tEA is in the midst of implementing a training programme called Uplifting Women Street Vendors. “We started interest-free loan, under this programme, with flexible mode of repayment and time period. We envision the women street vendors expanding and diversifying their business while augmenting their income,” she said. 

Annie Jain, Chairperson of the Dimapur-based 24x7 Media/NGO was the special guest at the programme. While commending tEA and Capri Global for the initiative, Jain said that instilling the value of hardwork is the biggest lesson a person can give and in this aspect, the women vendors standout.