Organisers with the participants during the workshop held for the street vendors in the Phek region on August 29.
Phek, August 29 (MExN): In the first of its kind in Phek Town, Entrepreneurs Associates in its effort to assist the women street vendors across the state of Nagaland reached out to this group of people in this region.
In partnership with Caring Friends India, a philanthropic organisation and Phek Town Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI), EA organised a workshop for the street vendors mostly women who are the ‘guardians of the local or indigenous economy’ in the Phek region of the state.
It was stated in a press release that about 300 plus women attended the daylong programme on August 29 that delved on the issues and problems that these women face along with the opportunities that are overlooked in this trade.
Addressing the gathering of women vendors, many of whom came in from neighbouring villages, EA’s CEO Coordinator Neichute Doulo encouraged the women to work hard and commit to putting aside savings for their future. Assuring that EA will make sure to contribute to their savings, once it reaches 10,000 rupees, Neichute also talked about ways to increase their incomes.
Emphasising on poultry rearing for eggs, he challenged the women to make Phek District import free in the next five years. Talking about the opportunities of the horticulture sector and banking on the blessings of nature, he highlighted planting Lemon trees as one activity that can offer huge scope for earning and encouraged the women to grow it even for export.
Avelu Ruho, ADC, Phek District and the administrator of the PCCI encouraged the street vendors to practice honesty and fair business dealings. She exhorted them to be polite and practise the habit of offering clean and presentable products to gain customers. Appreciating the effort made by EA, she asked the vendors to better organise their business and activities while leveraging the opportunities that are offered by EA. Meanwhile, Avelu also guaranteed that the administration will try their best to educate citizens to buy from local vendors to facilitate their businesses.
Besuvolu Venuh, President, Phek Area Mothers’ Association challenged them to promote their businesses while also giving importance to educating their children who are the future citizens.
Reaching out to the women vendors and representing the Phek Area Farmers Union, the President Theputhiyi Venuh also encouraged the vendors to take their works seriously and attempt to increase production and yield to expand their business.
A few years back, the Phek Town had witnessed the systematic growth of the weekly markets through the concerted efforts of some concerned citizens. One of the initiators of the weekly market, Nuyi Hoshi advised the women to maintain consistent and appropriate pricing mechanisms. This he said would attract more customers not just from the town but from neighbouring places to shop from the bazaars.
The program was chaired by Welhikhro Mero, EATACOL Branch Manager, who highlighted the activities undertaken by EA through its cooperative wing. He also shared about the possibilities and opportunities with the organisation and encouraged the women to become members with the organisation to plan for their financial future.
The programme began with an invocation pronounced by Ngotsolo Therie, Associate Pastor PTBC.
EA intends to reach out to 1,000 women vendors this year from all parts of the state through its project of ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors’. The organisation has so far conducted similar workshops with vendors in Pfutsero, Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung Towns. The initiative is to empower the women vendors by training them on financial managements, savings, health care, hygiene and even legal rights. Since the first workshop in October 2017, many women have benefited from the project and have accesses financial, health and legal services through this programme.
