Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS, inaugurated a new aggregation-cum-retail store, “La Ketmung”, at Arkong Ward (adjacent to Urban Oasis), Mokokchung, on September 24, 2025. The store has been set up as a marketplace for products made by Self Help Groups (SHGs) and individual women entrepreneurs from the district, with the aim of economically uplifting women.
In his address, Assistant Commissioner of Mokokchung, Ajay Moktan, IAS shared that the initiative was proposed by the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW-Mission Shakti), Mokokchung.
He said that during interactions with SHGs, members expressed that while they already had products, they lacked a physical marketplace to sell them. To address this need, the project was developed using a seed funding of ₹2 lakh provided by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, under its Centre for Cooperative and Livelihood (CCL) program.
He informed that the store is open to all SHGs and individual women entrepreneurs who wish to sell their products. “We have no restrictions, anyone can bring their products. Since there is a minimum maintenance cost for the store, we will be charging a bare minimum, like 10% from every product sold, for store upkeep and salesperson expenses,” he said.
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Moktan clarified that the store will not purchase products in bulk. Instead, entrepreneurs can keep their products at the outlet, and payment will be made based on sales, with the store deducting only the agreed commission for maintenance.
He added that the products available at the store have been sourced from SHGs across the district, with support also extended by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM). “Hopefully, a few years down the line, this store will still be functioning and become self-sustainable. We are also expecting assistance from different institutions like NABARD,” he said.
Highlighting future plans, Moktan stated that efforts are underway to create an online presence for “La
Ketmung” through social media platforms to facilitate orders and to promote products outside the district as well.
