Pilot project to train women street vendors begins
Morung Express News
Kohima | October 13
Street vendors, especially women vendors, are an essence to the vibrant culture of a city or town besides their contribution to the economy of the State and country. Often their needs, their financial progress, and basic rights are overlooked. Understanding these concerns, a pilot project named ‘Uplifting women street vendors in Kohima’ has been initiated by the Entrepreneurs Associate (EA) in collaboration with Sisterhood Network which began on October 13.
The project aims to train women vendors on areas of basic business skills, financial management, educate them on their basic rights. According to the EA, the project will focus on educating ‘the women vendors on their basic rights, provide them basic business skills in understanding on how the market works, facilitate financial empowerment through savings, stock management and finance, awareness on product knowledge, hygiene and sanitation, make them model entrepreneurs to influence families and educate them on ethical business, customer services and market around them’.
Providing a brief idea behind the project, Neikule Doulo, Master Franchise Aloha Mental arithmetic mentioned that the lack of savings among Naga women vendors has been a major concern. “Most of the women vendors do not progress financially even after decades of working and selling vegetables on the streets,” said Doulo informing that the vendors are often living from hand to mouth where they have to meet the immediate needs of their families without investing in themselves.
Basing on the recent discussions on the imbalances the Nagaland demography, and the monopoly and domination by outsiders, Doulo pointed out that a lot of suggestions have been put forward especially focusing on the potentials of the youth. However, Doulo reminded that the women street vendors are completely overlooked despite their immense contribution to the economy in Nagaland. “I feel that these women vendors are the people who have so much potential to bridge the gap. It is not just the youth but the women vendors who have a greater role in bridging these imbalances,” asserted Doulo adding that the project will attempt to empower the women street vendors and further escalate the progress they are making.
Hoping that the project will be a beginning of something greater, Doulo remarked, “If the women learn something today, they can impact the whole family.”
The first cycle of the project will be training 13 street vendors who has been sponsored by patrons and churches. The project is still accepting donations for their next cycle of training. The project will train the women vendors on ethical business (Neikule Doulo), Customer service (Ela Susan James, Lead Trainer EA and Proprietor Educe), Motivational session (Neichute Doulo, CEO, Co-ordinator EA), Financial management (Neiketonuo Kotso, Assistant Manager EATACOL and Zalekholu Shujo, Assistant Manager, GSL), and peer to peer learning through group discussion (Michelle Hesso, Program Advisor, EA)
