Women in Nagaland turn self-employed to earn a living

Akitoli Swu is a young Naga entrepreneur from Dimapur who set up her own herbal soap company with the brand name "Angry Mother".

After completing her Hospitality Business Management from Birmingham in England and BSc Dietetics and Post Graduate Advanced Nutrition in USA, she came back home and started her own venture.

She makes herbal soaps by using different natural ingredients. Herbal products are in great demand in her locality and also outside.

Akitoli is now planning to expand her business to some rural areas so that she can provide job to unemployed women.

"I am planning to shift my soap company at Hokechei village may be next month. I want the rural women to be involved because they are not doing anything and they just rely on their husband so they can start helping me in packaging and at least they can earn something even if it is little bit," said Swu.

Recently, a seven-day long training programme on making soaps and other products from Aloe Vera was organized at the State Horticulture Nursery in Dimapur.

Altogether, 40 participants from different Self Help Groups (SHGs) under Dimapur district took part in the training.

The training programme was sponsored by the department of horticulture, under the scheme of Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.

During the programme, they were taught how to make Aloe Vera soaps and different products like jam, jelly, shampoo, juice, and pickles.

"They taught us really well as to how to make Aloe Vera soaps. Today four SHGS from different tribes came together and got to learn like this .It is really good. They taught us how to make Aloe Vera soap, dish wash, pickle, juice and they also taught us what kind of chemical to be used and the amount of water. This will help us to get job," said Ts Ason Chang, a participant.

"We have also given the SHGs a special training in making fruit juices by the Deputy Director of Horticulture so that they can augment their income," Joint Director of Horticulture, Pawan Kumar said.

Several women in the region have become self-employed in an effort to earn a living and improve their socio economic status.

These women are determined to bring about a change in their fortunes.