tEA organises health, hygiene session for women street vendors in Kohima

Our CorrespondentKohima | October 12The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) today organised an awareness session on health, menstrual hygiene and environmental responsibility under its Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme at Red Cross Building, Kohima.Collaborating with the Rnisarg Foundation, Mumbai, the programme was attended by 112 women street vendors, which aimed to promote awareness of personal health, safe menstrual practices and responsible waste management.The programme was chaired by Gracy, Operations Supervisor, tEA, while background of the Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme was highlighted by Neikule Doulo, Executive Director, tEA.Initiated in 2017, the programme supports women street vendors, who play an important role in the local economy but often face challenges related to financial security, working conditions and access to information and support.Through this initiative, tEA seeks to empower women by strengthening their livelihoods, building their capacities and creating awareness of issues that affect their economic and personal well-being. The programme also recognises that women's empowerment goes beyond financial independence and includes access to health information, hygiene awareness, dignity and confidence.The session featured Dr Lata Ghanshamnani, Co-founder of the Rnisarg Foundation, accompanied by Veena Angadi, Co-founder, Interior Designer and Yoga Therapist, and Parvathy, Project Head- Sakhi, Rnisarg Foundation.Dr Lata, an eye specialist with 25 years of professional experience,introduced the foundation's initiatives and shared its work in promoting environmental awareness and responsible waste management over the past decade. She highlighted the close connection between environmental cleanliness and human health, emphasising that neglecting the environment can have serious consequences for community well-being.Dr Lata explained the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink, encouraging participants to reconsider their everyday practices and understand how improper waste disposal contributes to pollution and environmental degradation.She emphasised that waste management is a shared responsibility and that small changes in individual behaviour can contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.Neichute Doulo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of tEA encouraged the women to continue pursuing their businesses, emphasizing their vital role as pillars of their families.He also highlighted the importance of prioritizing their mental health and physical well-being while working towards their goals.Urging the women to develop a broader vision for their future, he stressed the importance of building capital as a key step towards achieving financial stability and prosperity.The programme was attended by women street vendors from markets across Kohima.The women vendors are a very vulnerable group of the local market ecosystem, without proper vending sites and structural systems to protect them. Since the launch of the program in 2017, tEA has been working with these women across Nagaland, Manipur and Assam.The programme has been supported by various CSRs. Currently the organisation has expanded its outreach to include women farmers and aggregators who form an intricate network in the farm vending ecosystem. Through this program, EA has also been taking the women for exposure trips besides providing them with intensive capacity training, according to Maongsenla, Research Associate, tEA.