NEW DELHI, March 29: Shillong MP Vincent H Pala batted for a women-led market in matrilineal Meghalaya similar to the Ima Market or Mothers’ Market in Manipur’s capital Imphal.
“Meghalaya is a matrilineal society, and in our state, women are responsible for the upbringing and management of the family,” Pala said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
There is also an increasing presence of women as entrepreneurs which has led to significant business and economic growth in the state as well as in the country, he said justifying such a market in the hill state.
A women-led market will help female vendors do their small businesses in a hassle-free manner, Pala said.
In Imphal’s unique Ima Market, only women are allowed to trade their products. Men can visit the bazaar and buy goods.
“With a vision to promote the sustainable development of women entrepreneurs for balanced growth in the Northeast, we should take measures to strengthen women entrepreneurship through initiatives, schemes, and activating partnerships among diverse stakeholders,” Pala wrote.
“Therefore, initiatives like the women-led market will boost not just the earning of women but will also lead to improved dignity, livelihood, and better management of the family,” he added.
Pala also demanded that a state-of-the-art textile hub be set up in Meghalaya in line with the Bangladesh model. This would not only increase production but will also help in employing a large number of unemployed youths, he said.
People of Meghalaya, especially the women are best suitable for weaving and sewing, Pala said.
The labour-intensive textile industry demands a lot of hard work and it requires the employment of a relatively large number of people, mainly women, he said.
The former union minister urged the government to enhance skill and capacity by setting up training centres in the region. The eight states in the Northeast each have specific needs in skill-based education, focused on local industry, trades, and resources, he said in his letter.
