Exclusive bus service for street vendors launched in Pfutsero

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 22 (EMN): Minister for Planning and Co-ordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu on Monday flagged off a bus service launched for street vendors in Pfutsero by the Entrepreneur Associates (EA).

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the Nagaland government was “very serious” about the economy of the state; the High Powered Committee had discussed ways to improve the economic condition before deciding to go back to farming.

Exclusive bus service for street vendors launched in Pfutsero

People must start farming, he said, encouraging farmers to grow as much crops as they could because the government would support them with markets for their produce.

To further empower the street vendors and farmers of the district, the minister also announced that he would donate a bolero pick-up for the street vendors.

While expressing concern over the market facility for the street vendors, particularly in the urban areas, Kronu said he had invested money in developing market areas in Dimapur, Kohima, and between Kohima-Dimapur.

Further, a place for cold rooms in Kohima has been identified for farmers from Phek district to store their perishable vegetables.

“Other than agriculture, it will be difficult for Phek district to compete with others,” he said.

“Earlier, there were no proper roads and market linkages but now Phek district’s roads would become one of the best in two years,” he added.

The Kohima-Jessami road would be completed soon, the minister said, adding that even the Jessami-Avankhu-Myanmar road can help the farmers from the district to trade with international countries.

Chief Executive Officer of EA, Neichute Doulo, said the bus service was exclusively dedicated to street vendors and not for the public. He added that Caring Friends have supported EA with an interest-free loan for the bus.

“Back in 2017, when EA started the women street vendors programme, they came to learn that transportation was their biggest requirement. The street vendors usually depend on NST buses, as other commercial vehicles are too expensive for them.

“Now, the street vendors would collect vegetables from different villages and source out to Dimapur by using the bus service,” he said.

Doulo added that it was time for the citizens to support street vendors.

For now, EA is managing the bus service, informed, adding that farmers could discuss with EA about the fares.

‘Till date, there are 2600 street vendors registered under EA’s street vendors programme. The bus will be stationed at Pfutsero,’ he said.

President of Chakhesang Mother’s Association, Zhonelu Tunyi encouraged the street vendors to be honest in their dealings, saying that ‘honesty is greater than earning a degree’.

“For a society to become better, it hugely depends on mothers,” she said. “A lot of street vendors used to come and share their grievances with CMA on many occasions and the association too tried to help them in whatever ways we can,” she added.

One of the street vendors shared that their vegetables would rot even before reaching Dimapur because of delay in transportation. ‘We have to work really hard for next few months to make up the damaged vegetables,’ she added.

She said that she never knew how to save money until EA came to Pfutsero and reached out to them. Their services in the town have greatly improved the condition of the street vendors and many of them have benefitted from it, she added, while calling upon her fellow vendors to set an example for others.

“We should not in any way indulge in improper moral character when opportunity is given to us but use it for a greater cause,” she added.

Project Coordinator of Chakhesang Women Welfare Society, Tekhewetsolu-u Wezah also encouraged the street vendors to use the facility thanked the EA for contributing towards the economy of the state.

During the programme, the EA also launched its first phase of interest-free loans for street vendors and micro entrepreneurs up to INR 50,000. Doulo had earlier said that EA was able to collect INR 30 lakh from well-wishers during the lockdown so that they could give loans to street vendors with zero interest. Meanwhile, Kronu had donated INR 5 lakh towards this initiative.

Altogether, 60 persons including 45 street vendors and 15 micro entrepreneurs applied for the first phase of the loans and 14 street vendors were awarded for attaining their saving of INR 10,000.