Livelihood initiative for PLHIVs a success
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 26 2013 :
The 30 PLHIV (People Living with HIV/AIDS) enterprises displaying various products during the three day product expo organized from 23rd to 25th October 2013 at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen shows that livelihood initiative for PLHIVs is getting results.
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 potentials 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 gave an opportunity toPLHIVs for enhancing their technical knowledge about managing enterprises, getting legal entity, availing benefits from variousgovernment 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.
After the inaugural of the expo on 23rd October, the remaining two day i.e, 24th and 25th was important for the PLHIV entrepreneurs because of the technical sessions.
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 person's deliberation, there was interactive session as well, where PLHIV entrepreneurs asked queries and enlightened their knowledge.
The third and closing day of the expo shows a thought provoking interactive session with bankers, non-banking financial companies and other micro financers.
During the session, Kh.
Yaiskul, General Manager, Manipur Rural Bank, Th.Chourjit, Asst.
Manager, NEDFI (North Eastern Development Finance Corporation India Lt.) and Ksh.
Biren Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Human Resource Development Organization (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-financers.
The session open the floodgates of banking knowledge which will help the enterprises in their future approach for availing financial assistance.
The expo showcase various products ranging from soft toys to beautifully knitted handloom products, from enchanting incent sticks to artistically craft handicraft item which lure bankers and other micro-financers leaving deep impression that it will not be a mistake to give financial support to these PLHA enterprises.
The expo clearly shows 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 stigmatized 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) thataims at sustainable livelihood support for PLHIVs by providing training for various trades and post training handholding by providing linkages for starting their own enterprises and its survival is getting positive results.
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