Manipur's first milk processing plant is a boon to many

Several non-profit organizations in Manipur have been working towards providing better employment opportunities to youth and the underprivileged population.

Manipur's Youth Volunteers' Union has recently set up the state's first milk processing plant at Thoubal Wangmataba with an aim to provide employment to the local unemployed youth.

The plant, being run by the Youth Volunteer Union Milk Producer Company Ltd, will be the first to produce pasteurized and toned milk in the state.

The construction of the processing plant, which includes a 5000 liter cold storage, was started in January last year and the plant has been producing pasteurized milk since December.

"If YVU is providing employment to 1000 youth so if other NGO like YUV also take up such program then law and order situation will be improved and if we provide employment to the youth like this then automatically state economy will boost up," said Akoijam Tikendrajit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, YVU

"Through this income we can sustain our livelihood for managing our small family," said Borno Singh, a farmer.

The Youth Development Union has been undertaking developmental projects in the state with an aim to improve the lives of the underprivileged people by providing them employment opportunities.

The organization has been running the largest Dairy farm in Manipur since 1988.

Under the Dairy Foundation Farm, 3 societies and 30 home dairy units have been set up till now.

The union plans to provide 50 more cows to the farmers, taking the total number of the union's cows to 260. It also provides dairy training to the youth of the state.

" It is very good for farmers. Before we faced difficulty to sell milk in the market but now YUV comes and collect the milk to sell in the market so it's very helpful for us," added Leimapokpam Nimobala Devi, another farmer.

Projects like this one are a boon for the local dairy farmers as well as the unemployed youth, who are now able to make a decent living.

Such initiatives by small groups make a considerable change in the life of the people.