By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: United Manipuri Muslim Women Development Organization (UMMWDO) launched the handicraft and handloom products of Indigenous Manipuri Muslim Women Enterprises (IMMWE) at Imphal on October 10, 2013.
The product launching programme, organized at Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak, at Imphal, was attended by Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries Mohd. Abdul Nasir, Chairman of Wakf Board, Manipur, Mohd. Fajur Rahim and Secretary of Manipur State Minorities Commission & Chief Executive Officer of Manipur State Haj Committee Syed Wahidur Rahman as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and President respectively. The programme was attended by representatives of various Muslim civil organizations of the State, Muslim intellectuals and members of UMMWDO and IIMWE.
Giving the key-note address, President of UMMWDO Anwari Noorjahan said, “The handicraft products which we have exhibited today are produced by the members of our organization. These women had taken time out of their busy house-hold and organizational works to produce these products to earn their livelihood. We have started this enterprise to give source of livelihood for those Muslim women who are confined in their houses. Compared to the womenfolk of other communities the participation of Muslim women in economic activities is very low. Even though Muslim women engage in different traditional economic activities like weaving, poultry and vegetable farming, they fail to get high profit from these activities as they fail to employ the scientific and advanced technological methods. The engagement of Muslim women in economic activities has to be enhanced to bring economic empowerment of the Muslim women in the State. It was with this motive that we had started this enterprise. We want the support from all quarters, including the State Government.”
“The State Government should give special attention to improve the economy of Muslims in the State. The skills of the Muslim women folk should be tapped. They should be given training in various income-generating activities. We want the State Government to institute industrial work-sheds for the Muslim women. The training centres run with the assistance of State Government should be monitored. We also want to be part of the monitoring team,” Noorjahan added.
Addressing the gathering, Abdul Nasir appreciated the efforts put in by the Muslim women to produce handicraft and handloom products. He said that we should encourage such steps taken up by our women folk for income generation. He assured that he would give all possible assistance to the Muslim womenfolk who want to earn. They should be given skill development trainings, he added.
Abdul Nasir further said he along with the other Muslim MLAs would discuss with the Chief Minister and try to give all possible help from side of the State Government. Other speakers at the function also appreciated the step taken up by the IMMWE.