CHANDEL: A two-day Workshop on Entrepreneurship Knowledge Programme under Component 5.2 – Support to Aspiring Entrepreneurs, backed by the Ministry of MSME, Manipur State Government, MANIDCO, and The World Bank, was held on Saturday at the Community Hall of Salemthar village in Chandel district.
The workshop was organised by the Manipur Technology Innovation Hub (MTI-HUB) under the aegis of the Manipur State Information Technology Society (MSITS), with Hands of Peoples Empowerment (HOPE) as the organising partner and Cornerstone LAMPS Ltd. as collaborator.
The Workshop-13 was graced by General Manager of DIC Chandel, Th. Bijoy Singh, as the chief guest, while Block-in-Charge, DAO Chandel, Ng. Chumsha Clement, attended as the guest of honour.
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The programme commenced with an invocation prayer offered by the local catechist of Sektaikarong, St. Francis Xavier, followed by a welcome speech delivered by the president of Cornerstone LAMPS Ltd., Ss. Samson. The president appreciated the dignitaries for gracing the event and thanked the participants.
It may be mentioned that Cornerstone LAMPS Ltd. was inaugurated on May 1, 2026, and presently covers 19 villages with an active membership of around 620 people.
During the technical session, the resource person highlighted various government schemes and agricultural support initiatives available for farmers and entrepreneurs. These included subsidies on selected farming instruments and machinery such as rice mills, tractors, sprinklers, and water pumps. Information was also shared on the Integrated Farming System under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.
According to Chumsha, only two farms in Chandel enjoy the scheme — Chandanpokpi and Lamphoupasna.
In addition, the participants were briefed on the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), which promotes cluster-based organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices.
The chief guest highlighted the struggling state of entrepreneurship in Manipur over the past three to four years and stressed the need to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among the youth. He spoke extensively on various awareness programmes and opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, environment, business, and allied fields.
Emphasising the role of entrepreneurs in nation-building, Bijoy underlined the importance of entrepreneurship in generating employment, fostering a progressive work culture, and reducing excessive dependence on government jobs. He encouraged participants to explore innovative and self-reliant livelihood opportunities instead of relying solely on the public sector for employment.
He further elaborated on the significance of Udyam registration, the official certification issued by the Ministry of MSME for the formal recognition of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
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The participants were also briefed on various flagship schemes, including the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), a credit-linked scheme, and PMFME (food processing scheme), for their benefit.
A short speech was delivered by the chief of Salemthar, Mayarchung Chothe.
The workshop witnessed active participation from local villagers, aspiring entrepreneurs, farmers, and youth leaders, who engaged in discussions on entrepreneurship opportunities, self-employment, and government support mechanisms for rural economic development.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ng. Koringam Moyon, Secretary of Cornerstone LAMPS Ltd., followed by the distribution of certificates to the participants.