Manipur's Ranita Devi leads a quiet revolution through SMILE
- ANI feature stories focused on Manipur -

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- : Manipur's Ranita Devi leads a quiet revolution through SMILE (in English) : YouTube Link -
Meet Hanjabam Ranita Devi, a passionate entrepreneur turning
the rich flavors of Manipur into a movement of empowerment
through her brand, SMILE.
After gaining inspiration from food processing training at the
District Industries Centre, she transformed her journey — shifting
from running a vocational institute to nurturing SMILE from her
own home.
With every organic product, she not only preserves Manipur’s
seasonal bounty but also uplifts the lives of local women, weaving
tradition and opportunity into a brighter future.
Hanjabam Ranita Devi
Entrepreneur
I source my raw materials from MoMA (Manipur Organic
Mission Agency). People have heard about our work with the
organic dehydrator, especially through social media, and
they keep reaching out to me. Currently, 8–10 women work
with me directly, and my larger group includes around 80–85
women.
Without any external aid, Ranita has built her brand SMILE from
the ground up, selling her products both online and offline.
Her vision is to expand across the Northeast while continuing to
empower local women by offering them stable work, income, and
a renewed sense of purpose.
Konthoujam Amita Devi
Staff member
I feel really good about what we’ve achieved. Earlier, there
was no one to buy the produce we wanted to sell, much of it
was simply thrown away. But ever since SMILE started,
things have changed for the better. Now, nothing goes to
waste. Farmers are happy, too.
What began with no experience and a single product has grown
into a range of over 80 items.
Today, SMILE sources raw materials in bulk from tribal women in
the hills, empowering local communities along the way.
Kshetrimayum Elizabeth,
Staff member
Before this, I used to stay at home and spend time playing
games on my phone. But after joining here, I’ve gained so
much experience and knowledge. My family… what can I
say? They’ve seen the change in me, and it means a lot.
Hanjabam Ranita Devi has not only empowered local women by
providing them with meaningful work, but has also become a role
model by uniting women from diverse ethnic communities to work
together for Manipur’s collective progress and prosperity.
* This video and transcript was provided to e-pao.net by ANI - Asian News International
Posted on 03 June 2025 .
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