‘WE Mean Business– 20 Women Entrepreneurs, 20 Stories,’ a graphic novel comprising real-life stories of 20 women entrepreneurs from across India was launched at Sky Garden, Chümoukedima on October 22.
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | October 22
‘WE Mean Business– 20 Women Entrepreneurs, 20 Stories,’ a graphic novel comprising real-life stories of 20 women entrepreneurs from across India was launched at Sky Garden, Chümoukedima on Saturday.
The English and Hindi version 'Mera Business, Meri Kahaani,' was released during a programme organised by Women Entrepreneurs Network, Nagaland.
The women entrepreneurs featured in the book included two Nagas- Vekuvolu Dozo and Nengneithem Hengna, founders and proprietors of Viko Ethnic and Runway India respectively- and protagonists for the gathering today. All 20 women entrepreneurs are from the German development organisation GIZ India's Project- Her&Now.
The book was released by guest speaker Lithrongla G Sangtam, IAS (Retd), who is also one of the pioneering women entrepreneurs of Nagaland.
On the occasion, Sukriti Somvashi, communication expert, Project Her&Now and GIZ representative noted that women continue to face many socio-economic barriers.
She said factors like cultural norms, biases and structural inequalities make it more difficult for women to pursue and succeed in entrepreneurship. “This is why it is crucial to not only offer targeted financial support to women entrepreneurs but also to change stereotypical and discriminatory mindsets too.”
Accordingly, she emphasized the need to redefine the notion of who is and who can be an entrepreneur and put a spotlight on relatable role models so young girls can develop their on entrepreneurial aspirations.
The book that was launched today is one way of achieving this. It comprises inspiring narratives of 20 businesswomen from India, all of whom have been part Her&Now support programmes, she added.
A time of reflection
Vekuvolu and Nengneithem also addressed the gathering, reflecting on the hurdles, discouragement as well as the support they received throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
“I do not believe in the term 'self-made' because there has been so many people who have supported and believed in me, starting from when I first opened a store at Aiko building in Dimapur to where I am now,” shared Nengneithem.
Both the women expressed gratitude to all those who made their businesses a success. The whole experience of being interviewed and featured in a book that is being launched across the country is overwhelming, but at the same time, “it has been a rather emotional time of realisation that we can also be role models wherever we are.”
Meanwhile, Somvashi also gave a brief highlight on the Project. She said Project- Her&Now had been initiated based on the fact that India's female labour force participation currently stands at 19 percent and less than 20 percent of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in India are led by women.
According to her, entrepreneurship is one important opportunity to increase women's participation in the economy. As per estimates, equal participation of women in the labour market would increase India's GDP by 27 percent, she maintained.
In Nagaland, the Project has been implemented by Dhriiti- The Courage within, and we continue to work closely with IDAN and Startup Nagaland, she added.
Alemjungla Jamir, Chairwoman, WENN, emphasized on the objectives of WENN, stating that is a network and platform for sharing of entrepreneurial information and experience, upskilling through training, women empowerment and most importantly giving a voice to women entrepreneurs of Nagaland.
The women entrepreneurship industry in Nagaland needs to grow as a shining example of the heights that women can achieve when they come together, she said while adding that one of its objectives is also to collaborate with both Government and NGOs.
WENN also aims to be recognised as an important machinery in the decision-making process for women entrepreneurs, she added.
According to Jamir, WENN’s goal is to create a more enabling environment for women entrepreneurs in Nagaland and “today’s event is a celebration of women entrepreneurs, their diverse realities, business journeys and ambitions.”
We plan to do many more such events in the region and grow our network far and wide. To make this possible, we require the support of all women entrepreneurs in Nagaland because “Great things happen WENN women come together.”
