Kohima, May 29: The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) today felicitated the daughter of a street vendor for securing Top 15th rank in HSLC board exam 2023 with 96.50% marks.
Nutsulu Theluo, a beneficiary of the ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors Program’ at Pfutsero has been working for the last 20 years as a street vendor cum aggregator, ferrying farm produce and local goods from Pfutsero to Dimapur and then buying essentials from Dimapur to sell upon her return.
She leaves every Tuesday in the late evening, travelling the whole night to reach Dimapur just before dawn, usually targeting the Wednesday Bazaar in the state commercial hub. Nutsulu then travels the whole night to reach her home without proper sleep.
It was during such a trip recently, while still in Dimapur that she received a call relaying the news that her daughter, Velu Theluo had secured the top 15th position in the HSLC exams.
Recognising the fact that she has been a part of the ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors Program’ since 2017, and has been associated with the tEA, the office today conducted a felicitation program to appreciate this achievement from the vegetable vending community.
At the program, held at Pfutsero, a cheque of Rs 12,000 was handed to Velu Theluo, for her accomplishment by the office.
Speaking at the program, tEA Head of Communications, Neikule Doulo thanked the family for their hard work and breaking a glass ceiling for many other families in similar situations. She stated that given the works that tEA has been doing with the vegetable vendors, it was a momentous occasion even for the organisation. She encouraged those present to collectively strive for excellence so that our communities will benefit from our contributions.
The President of the Chakhesang Mothers Association (CMA) Zhonelu Tunyi, addressing the gathering congratulated Velu and her parents for this milestone.
She stated that in education there is no differentiation between genders and there is great opportunity for women to be at par with men, or even better.
Highlighting the fact that girls are excelling in their respective fields, she hoped that the trend would continue and make women feel empowered in every aspect.
Zhonelu also stated that Velu’s achievement was not just for her family alone, but her entire community as a whole.
Sharing her story to the tEA team members, Velu stated that she has been consistently working hard following a specific routine, to achieve her goal. She acknowledged the contributions of her teachers at the Chakhesang Mission Higher Secondary School, for being her driving force, making her believe in the possibility and helping her realise it. She now plans to pursue her further studies in the Science stream.
Growing up as the second youngest among five siblings, Velü narrated her childhood recollections of her mother’s hard work and sacrifice as the sole breadwinner in the family.
‘Our mother raised us with the meagre income she made first with the small corner shop, which is now no more, and then with the vegetable vending business that she now does,” she states. Velu’s father who is a social worker also actively encouraged her and gave her the liberty to give her best to her studies.
The program was chaired by tEA Zonal Head, Phek Zone Chukhoyi Chiero. (Page News Service)
