Entrepreneurs Associates reaches out to women street vendors

[caption id="attachment_203844" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Avelu Ruho addressing the women street vendors in Phek town.[/caption] Dimapur, Aug. 29 (EMN): In a first of its kind in Phek town, Entrepreneurs Associates in its effort to assist the women street vendors across the state, reached out to the vendors in Phek. In partnership with Caring Friends India, a philanthropic organisation and Phek Town Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI), EA organised a workshop on Aug. 29, for the women street vendors who are the “guardians of the local or indigenous economy” in Phek. More than 300 women attended a day-long programme that took on issues and problems that vendors faced 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 CEO Coordinator Neichute Doulo encouraged the women to work hard and save for their future. Assuring that EA will make sure to contribute to their savings, once it reaches INR 10,000, Doulo 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, Doulo highlighted planting lemon trees as one activity that can offer huge scope for earning and encouraged the women to grow it for export. Additional deputy commissioner of Phek, Avelu Ruho, who is also the administrator of the PCCI encouraged the street vendors to practice honesty and fair business dealings. She urged them to be polite and practice the habit of offering clean and presentable products to gain customers. Appreciating the effort made by EA, she asked the vendors to have a better organisd business and activities while leveraging the opportunities that are offered by the organisation. The ADC assured that the administration will try to educate citizens to buy from local vendors to facilitate their businesses. President of the Phek Area Mothers’ Association, Besuvolu Venuh, 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, President Theputhiyi Venuh told the vendors to take their job seriously and put an effort to expand their business. 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. Welhikhro Mero, EATACOL branch manager, highlighted the activities undertaken by EA through its cooperative wing. He also shared the possibilities and opportunities with the organisation and encouraged the women to become members with the organisation to plan for their financial future. The EA said it intends to reach out to 1,000 women vendors this year from all parts of the state through its project “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.