El proyecto

Manipur is one of the ‘seven sisters’ in the Northeastern region of India. The state is breathtakingly beautiful but happens to be one of the most impoverished states in the country. The region has had a very volatile history, and continues to be fraught with problems relating to insurgency. Against this backdrop, Manipur houses several underserved communities- majority of which have tribal ancestry. The area lacks even basic infrastructure in some places.

Youth Volunteers’ Union (YVU) is primarily a social service non-profit operating in north-eastern India since 1972. Powered by young men and women volunteers, it undertakes programs, such as agriculture development, watershed programs, lift irrigation projects, and environment and social issues awareness creation among local communities.

YVU started its microfinance operation called YVU Microfin in 1996 to drive self-sustainability and greater ownership of these programs by communities. YVU Microfin provides impoverished locals with credit to develop and build their own microenterprises and uplift themselves. It works towards financing this enterprise development and progress among women from underprivileged communities in Assam and Manipur.

Currently, women from Imphal East in Manipur are seeking a loan to invest in their respective micro-enterprises. These women mostly work on their small traditional weaving enterprises where they make shawls called mekhala chadors, loin cloths and bed spreads. In addition to weaving, tea-stalls and small cafes are also a popular choice of business that a lot of these women run. These women will purchase raw materials for their businesses- looms for weaving, different varieties of threads, inventory items for their tea-stalls such as tea, sugar, snacks etc. Through its partnership with Milaap, YVU Microfin supports women in these areas, uplifting them from poverty- the loan will help uplift 30 women and their families.