The Entrepreneurs Associates (EA), in collaboration with Mumbai-based Rnisarg Foundation, organised an awareness programme on health, menstrual hygiene and environmental responsibility for 112 women street vendors under its Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme at the Red Cross Building, Kohima, on Monday.
The programme aimed to improve awareness of personal health, safe menstrual practices and responsible waste management, while also encouraging women to strengthen their livelihoods and work towards greater financial independence.
The programme was chaired by Gracy, Operations Supervisor, EA, while Neikule Doulo, Executive Director, EA, delivered the welcome address and outlined the background of the Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme.
Initiated in 2017, the programme supports women street vendors who play an important role in the local economy but often face challenges relating to financial security, working conditions and access to information and support. Through the initiative, EA seeks to empower women by strengthening their livelihoods, building their capacities and raising awareness of issues affecting their economic and personal well-being.
The programme also recognises that women’s empowerment extends beyond financial independence to include access to health information, hygiene awareness, dignity and confidence.
The awareness session featured Dr Lata Ghanshamnani, Co-founder of Rnisarg Foundation, accompanied by Veena Angadi, Co-founder, Interior Designer and Yoga Therapist, and Parvathy, Project Head of Sakhi, Rnisarg Foundation.
Dr Lata, an eye specialist with 25 years of professional experience, introduced the foundation’s initiatives and shared its decade-long work in promoting environmental awareness and responsible waste management. Recalling an incident in which she was bitten by a mosquito around 10 years ago, she highlighted the close link between environmental cleanliness and human health, emphasising that neglecting the environment could have serious consequences for community well-being.
She explained the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink, urging participants to reconsider everyday practices and understand how improper waste disposal contributes to pollution and environmental degradation.
Dr Lata stressed the importance of segregating waste at source into wet and dry waste and discussed the need for responsible disposal of sanitary napkins, expired medicines, used injections and other specialised waste. She emphasised that waste management was a shared responsibility and that small changes in individual behaviour could contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.
Women’s health and menstrual hygiene formed another major focus of the programme. Dr Lata explained female reproductive anatomy and the menstrual cycle, addressing gaps in awareness and encouraging participants to understand their bodies and practise proper menstrual hygiene.
She also discussed social taboos and misconceptions surrounding menstruation, urging women to speak openly about reproductive health without shame or hesitation. As part of the session, she demonstrated the use of menstrual cups and tampons, explaining their benefits, appropriate use and precautions for safe menstrual care. Participants were encouraged to make informed choices based on their individual needs and comfort.
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The second session focused on financial empowerment and the way forward, led by Neichute Doulo, Chief Executive Officer of EA.
Encouraging the women to continue pursuing their businesses, he described them as important pillars of their families and stressed the need to prioritise mental and physical well-being alongside their professional goals.
He urged the participants to develop a broader vision for their future and highlighted capital formation as an important step towards financial stability and prosperity. Encouraging them to strive for continuous growth, he said each woman should aim to be in a better position three years from now than she was at present.
Concluding the session, Neichute reminded the participants that the present moment could mark the beginning of meaningful change in their lives and encouraged them to take proactive steps towards a more secure and prosperous future.
The programme brought together women street vendors from markets across Kohima. According to EA, women vendors remain a vulnerable section of the local market ecosystem, often operating without designated vending sites or adequate structural systems to protect their interests.
Since launching the initiative in 2017, EA has worked with women street vendors across Nagaland, Manipur and Assam, with support from various corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The organisation has also expanded its outreach to women farmers and aggregators who form an integral part of the farm-vending ecosystem.
Besides awareness programmes and intensive capacity-building training, EA provides participants with exposure visits to help broaden their knowledge, strengthen their capabilities and explore opportunities for improving their livelihoods.
