Livelihood initiative for PLHIVs a success
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 26 2013 :
The 30 PLHIV (People Living with HIV/AIDS) enterprises displaying various products during the three day product expo held from Oct 23 to 25 at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen shows that livelihood initiative for PLHIVs is paying dividend.
According to a statement, the expo was organized by Manipur Industries Development Council (MIDC) with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS).
It was a platform to exhibit skills and potential of PLHIVs and MARPs (Most at Risk Population) to different agencies and banks that can further support them rather than a platform for selling their products.
The event provided an opportunity to PLHIVs for enhancing their technical knowledge about managing enterprises, getting legal entity, availing benefits from various Government schemes for enterprises and financial assistance from banks and other non-banking financial agencies.
Therefore, unlike many other expos the three day event was kept in low profile both from media and public as well, it said.
On the second day of the expo, Y Raghumani Singh, General Manager DIC Chandel and L Ibetombi Devi, Deputy Manager, National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) talked about various Government schemes under which entrepreneurs can avail various benefits.
Apart from resource persons' deliberation, there was interactive session as well, where the resource persons fielded questions from PLHIV entrepreneurs.
The third and closing day of the expo witnessed a thought provoking interactive session with bankers, non-banking financial companies and other micro financiers.
During the session, Kh Yaiskul, General Manager, Manipur Rural Bank; Th Chourjit, Asst Manager, NEDFI (North Eastern Development Finance Corporation India Ltd) and Ksh Biren Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Human Resource Development Organisation (HRDO) deliberated on financial supports available in their respective agencies and process for availing the benefits.
During the session, it was evident from the entrepreneur's queries that many of the PLHA enterprises lack financial support and knowledge of taking financial assistance from banks and other micro-financiers.
The session opened the floodgates of banking knowledge which is expected to help the enterprises in their future approach for availing financial assistance.
The expo showcased various products ranging from soft toys to beautifully knitted handloom products, from enchanting incense sticks to artistically craft handicraft item which lure bankers and other micro-financiers leaving deep impression that it will not be a mistake to give financial support to these PLHA enterprises, it said.
The expo clearly indicated that PLHIVs can do and be part of the society contributing to the economy of the State and that they are not people to be stigmatised and discriminated.
The livelihood initiative for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) and Most at Risk Population (MARPs) by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) that aimed at sustainable livelihood support for PLHIVs by providing training for various trades and post training hand-holding by providing linkages for starting their own enterprises and its survival is getting positive results.
Comment
