The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) in partnership with Capri Loans conducted its “Uplifting Women Street Vendors” program for the women street vendors on March 28 at General Field in Deomali Town of Namsang Block, Tirap District in Arunachal Pradesh. This program is a second of its kind in Arunachal Pradesh ever since its institution in 2017, informed a press release by tEA. The program commenced during the early hours of the day, and sported a total strength of 50 women from various villages of the block centering around Deomali Town.
The program was moderated by Chubatemjen, Content Writer at tEA, who spoke on the origination and mission of tEA and the pertinence of the Programme, especially in rural landscapes. He briefed the women on crucial financial components such as budgeting, expense management, savings, investments, and digital payments to experience financial leeway. Chubatemjen 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 took to the mic to educate the women on the legal rights that they possess as street vendors. She emphasized 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 their 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
Meanwhile, Supongchiba, Community Mobiliser of tEA, apprised the gathering 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. Supongchiba also narrated the many success stories of the women beneficiaries who have benefitted from the handholding support offered under tEA.
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Yalik Lowang, Leader of SONA SHG, on behalf of the attendees expressed her delight to The Entrepreneurs Associates for bringing such an empowering initiative to a place like Namsang where majority of the street vendors struggle to achieve financial freedom. She echoed the message of tEA, i.e., for women to be independent and make a mark on their respective fields. Yalik also incentivized the lot to unlearn the co-dependent mindset, and begin pursuing additional livelihood generating activities to go beyond making ends meet. The program culminated with felicitation and a vote of thanks from Chubatemjen.
The Uplifting Women Street Vendors Program is a flagship program of The Entrepreneurs Associates, launched in October 2017, to empower women involved in the network of marketing farm produce. The program Is uniquely to tEA and one of a kind in the entire NER India. It engages with women street vendors, producers who also sell their yields, and aggregators who link rural products with the urban markets.
Till date, tEA has trained and worked with 7000+ women street vendors in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh with plans to branch out to other neighboring states in the upcoming days. Under the program, tEA has been providing training on financial & business management, skills training, health and legal services, mentorship and linkages to markets and Zero Interest Loans. tEA hopes that by 2025, 10,000 women street vendors will be impacted under the program.
