IMPHAL, October 26: A three day product expo for People Living with HIV/AIDS organized by the Manipur Industries Development Council (MIDC) with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) at the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen from October 23 had concluded yesterday.
A statement of the MACS has said, “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”.
Stating that the event gave an opportunity to PLHIVs for enhancing their technical knowledge about managing enterprises, getting legal entity, availing benefits from various government schemes for enterprises and financial assistance from banks and other non-banking financial agencies, it added that unlike many other expos the three day event was kept in low profile both from media and public as well.
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, it said. 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 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, it said.
Further according to the statement, 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) that aims 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, it said.