The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) recently conducted their “Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme” in Dimapur to support women street vendors. The program aimed to provide financial independence and stability to these hardworking women, who are the backbone of local economies.
On August 24, 2024, tEA organized the event at their office in Dimapur. The intimate gathering included six women street vendors and their spouses. The program was chaired by Vezou Venuh, Branch Manager of the Dimapur Branch at tEA. Tsinshe Yimchunger, a tEA member and street vendor, blessed the event with a heartfelt invocation.
Supongchiba, Community Mobiliser at tEA, emphasized the importance of being financially savvy and cultivating the habit of savings. He highlighted that saving is crucial for achieving financial stability and avoiding recurrent patterns of seeking loans. Vezou Venuh explained that tEA’s motivation behind providing zero-interest loans stemmed from the challenges faced by street vendors during the Covid-19 pandemic. These loans helped restart businesses and recoup losses, and this aid continues to support struggling women street vendors across states.
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All six beneficiaries received zero-interest loans, which will be instrumental in expanding their current business inventories. A vote of thanks was given by Yanbemo Kikon, husband of Neivole Kikon, a tEA beneficiary. He expressed his gratitude to tEA for lessening the burdens of street vendors through its wide range of networks. The program concluded with a mass prayer.
The Uplifting Women Street Vendors Program is a flagship initiative launched by tEA in October 2017. It aims to empower women involved in marketing farm produce by providing training on financial and business management, skills training, zero-interest loans, health and legal services, mentorship, and linkages to markets. Since its inception, tEA has trained and worked with over 10,000 women street vendors in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. Plans are underway to expand this program to other neighboring states in the coming days.
By 2025, tEA hopes to impact even more women street vendors under this program. This initiative not only supports economic growth but also uplifts the lives of these dedicated women who contribute significantly to their communities.
