Manipur Pushes Bank Support to Reach One Lakh Women Entrepreneurs

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh opened the 18th Saras Aajeevika Mela on October 27 at the City Convention Centre in Imphal. The event runs through November 6 and features over 100 stalls managed by women from Self-Help Groups. Singh set a target to reach one lakh Lakhpati Didis by 2029. He told the crowd, "The target could be achieved only with the active support and cooperation of banks."

Manipur currently counts 26,000 Lakhpati Didis. The state holds a two per cent loan default rate for these groups. This beats the national average of five per cent. Singh pointed to Imphal's Ima Market as proof of the economic power women wield in the region. He also noted the historical weight of the Nupi Lal movements.

Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen joined via video link to praise the Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society initiative. This program functions under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission. Sumant Singh, the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, claimed Manipur ranks first in women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises. Staff from the Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission received credit for their work with rural entrepreneurs. The event included an interactive session where Lakhpati Didis shared business success stories.