tEA sensitises women street vendors on financial literacy in Arunachal

DIMAPUR — The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA), in partnership with Capri Loans, conducted its “Uplifting women street vendors” programme for the women street vendors at General Field in Deomali town of Namsang block under Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday.

An update from tEA stated that Chubatemjen, content writer at tEA, briefed the women on crucial financial components such as budgeting, expense management, savings, investments and digital payments to experience financial leeway. He also stressed on the importance of understanding monetary inflows and outflows to help the women set realistic target goals and diminish frivolous spending habits.

Chanem Thingnok, CEO of Khajen Farmers Producer Company Limited, educated the women street vendors on the legal rights. She emphasised on key subjects such as accessing basic amenities, a notice period of 30 days for evacuating the spot in public areas and the right to be allotted vendoring spaces.

Thingnok also stressed on the right for socially excluded households to seek free legal aid under the Legal Service Authority Act of 1987.

Also speaking in the programme, Supongchiba, community mobiliser of tEA, apprised the women on the financial wing of The Entrepreneurs Associates. He spoke on the various modes of savings and the services offered under tEA in comparison to other private, central and government financial establishments.

He also narrated the success stories of women beneficiaries who have benefitted from the handholding support offered under tEA.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Yalik Lowang, leader of SONA SHG, expressed delight to The Entrepreneurs Associates for bringing such an empowering initiative to Namsang, where majority of the street vendors struggle to achieve financial freedom. She encouraged the women to be independent and make a mark on their respective fields.

Yalik further advised the women to pursue additional livelihood generating activities to go beyond making ends meet.

The programme was second of its kind in Arunachal Pradesh ever since its institution in 2017. A total of 50 women from various villages of the block centering around Deomali town attended the programme.

It mentioned that ‘Uplifting women street vendors’ programme is a flagship programme of The Entrepreneurs Associates launched in October 2017 to empower women involved in the network of marketing farm produce.

It stated that tEA has trained and worked with 7000+ women street vendors in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh till date and planned to branch out to other neighboring states in the upcoming days.