Imphal : In a function held at the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, (IBSD) Imphal, the Managing Trustee of KRC Foundation Biswadeep Gupta informed the gathering that it was in the month of January-February 2023 the ‘Barak-Manipur Friendship Association’ (BMFA) was formed under his leadership with a focus on developing socio-economic activities between the two regions. 

He was speaking to share his experience of the women’s entrepreneurship programme undertaken by IBSD where the KRC Foundation could play a very small part in connecting people.

Governor of Manipur Miss AnusuiyaUikey graced the occasion as Chief Guest, Dr.Anupam Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Central Agriculture University and HungyoWorshang, Secretary, of Science & Technology, Government of Manipur attended the function as Guest of Honour along with the Prof.Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, Director IBSD and other dignitaries and hundreds of women trainees who undertook the training programs from IBSD. 

Gupta echoed that coming from a journalistic background and working in the field of the socio-cultural domain for more than two decades in the Northeastern region and Bengal, both the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of life are being experienced very closely.

He stated that it was last year when he met the Director of IBSD, Prof Pulok Kumar Mukherjee in Shillong, where the Director discussed the outreach activities undertaken by IBSD on developing Women Entrepreneurs to usher in an economic movement through bioresources of the region.

Gupta informed that Prof Mukherjee also expressed his deep concern for the evolving situation in Manipur and requested us to help IBSD connect with women entrepreneurs who could be skilled up for a sustainable livelihood.    

KRC Foundation coordinated at the ground level and connected mothers and sisters of Imphal Valley to come forward to participate in the training initiative.

Acknowledging that the training programs were well-responded and now that IBSD also came forward to support the women trainees by providing them with requisite machinery and initial ingredients so that, their training could be converted into real-time work and kickstart production activities in groups.

Highlighting the strategic demography of Barak Valley, Gupta said that ‘we are all aware, Barak Valley consists of three districts of Assam and it is connected with Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Dima Hasao and Bangladesh.

As I come from Barak Valley, my home town being Silchar, here I would like to point out an important fact about Barak Valley. We have a population of more than 48 Lacs and thus Barak Valley is one of the biggest and nearest markets for Manipur.

He also said that the KRC Foundation and BMFA will be working on initiatives that boost the economy, provide sustainability and usher in a sense of harmonious existence. ‘We shall be available to all stakeholders whenever we are needed’, stated the President of Barak Manipur Friendship Association.

Further, he echoed ‘I wish all our women entrepreneurs the very best in their future endeavours. Life is full of opportunities and one thing that we should not lose is ‘Hope’.