Sensitisation programme on "Nai Roshni" scheme for minorities held
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, June 24 2017:
An interactive session on "Nai Roshni" scheme, a leadership development programme for minority women designed with the sole objective of empowering and instilling confidence among minority women was held at the seminar hall of Secured Office Complex, AT Line, North AOC, today .
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in collaboration with National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India .
Joint Secretary of Ministry of Minority Affairs, Niva Singh, Ministry of Minority Affairs Director A Dhanalakshmi and Ministry of Minority Affairs Undersecretary Aditya S Singh chaired the session as chief guest and guests of honour respectively .
Resource person Shankar Goenka briefed the participants on various topics covering entrepreneurship, management, positive attitude to life, motivation and life skills to tackle challenges with an upbeat mood .
The presentation included videos on thought processes, life transformation, training oneself by exploiting one's own potential and ways and perception strategies to become achievers in life .
He explained that with training, one can bring about the much needed change and should not worry about making mistakes .
Encouraging the participants to take part in the various programmes uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Niva Singh spoke on encouraging women to go out of their homes and take part in these programmes and avail various schemes and benefits available for them .
She stressed about the ways of applying for soft loans meant for the minority communities like the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, a micro finance scheme for women meant for providing loans to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) .
She also appealed the participants to raise their problems and queries and not to be hesitant in putting up the names of their NGOs or agencies so that the needs of the State may be looked into .
Representative of IFSL Skill Development Corporation , Saurab Dey explained that the rich heritage of Manipur in local ethnic products like textiles, kauna grass products, handlooms, pickle, fish etc is a strong breeding ground for women entrepreneurs who want to make a mark in their respective marketing line .
For enabling prospective entrepreneurs to gain a foothold in their target market, methods like simple innovation through machines, E-Commerce and IT platform like smart phones should be used to market their products, he said .
Lecturing on the case study of the Tripura Bamboo Mission (TBM) which started in 2001, he said that cluster infrastructure, design and value addition are some of the factors that paved the way for its success .
"Its more classic look, trendy designs and universally appealing aesthetic makes it popular amongst people", he also said .
It may be mentioned that TBM is a Tripura Government initiative programme for those entrepreneurs who cashed in on the reputation of bamboos.
They have transformed themselves into a online shopping website showcasing the best quality eco-friendly bamboo products ranging from lamps, lights, bags and furniture to accessories, baskets and home utility products .
Pointing out that TBM is also a go-green measure that gives a platform to beautify houses with economical bamboo products, Saurab Dey said , " TBM has provided a dependable source of livelihood to the locals by transforming the lives of unemployed, uneducated, local artisans who are gifted in several traditional art forms of the State of Tripura.
Manipur, too, can replicate the same with their local existing flora and fauna and earn more revenue." He also convinced that the mission is also aimed at bamboo plantation and restoration of forests cover .
Members of several NGOs, Project Implementing Agencies (PIA) and beneficiaries and other interested persons from minority groups of the State participated in the programme .
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