By A Staff Reporter
IMPHAL | Sept 26
A hardworking yet humble, a woman full of compassion who lives a life of complexities Arambam Renu Devi received her second National award for Cooperative Excellence during a function on September 21 in New Delhi.
The function was to mark the 100th birth centenary of Laxmanrao Inamdar, commonly known as Vakil Sahab, a co-operator and also a known mentor of PM Modi. Co-operators of the nation gathered and on that function, Renu was honoured with the award handed over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She was selected for Laxmanrao Inamdar National Award for Co-operative Excellence 2017 from 400 contenders. The function was attended by social welfare and cooperation minister Nemcha Kipgen. Seven co-operators were also given certificates and mementoes.
In an exclusive chat with the Imphal Free Press, Renu said she never thought that she would reach such height, as she studied only till class III.
Narrating her childhood, Renu said she do not know her father’s face and grew up under the care of her widowed mother. She said it was hard for her and had many a time slept without full satisfying meal. Learning from her life experience, she decided to render love and support to those who do not have.
Married to Maisnam Gogoi, she has five children and also nurtured 21 orphans at her Mantripukhri Mercy Lane home.
Renu first enrolled herself for District Industries Centres (DIC) training in embroidery when she was 16 years old, to help her mother in seeking livelihood. She secured first position in the training and was awarded with a flora machine and Rs.18, 000. She bought another two flora machines from the prize money.
She took a loan from Imphal Urban Cooperative Bank and bought five flying shuttle weaving machines, and set up her own company producing handloom and embroidery items at her Mantripukhri home with 110 staffs, made up of widows, orphans and other destitute women.
She had no knowledge of co-operatives and her cooperative was set up by Lokhogen Haokip in 1992, the then commissioner who was touched by her work and mission to help her.
She won a cluster of Rs. 63 lakhs from centrally sponsored scheme but received only Rs. three lakhs so far and do not know where her Rs. 60 lakhs has gone. She did not complain to the state government but since then she lost her trust with the state government. She made the achievement without a single help from the state government.
Under her co-operative called Renu Handloom and Handicraft Co-operative Pvt. Ltd., 1750 employees from 28 branches produced bed-sheets, mosquito nets, cushion covers, pillow covers, bags, phanek (wraparound) of different communities and tribes, cotton saris, half saris and even Mora.
Talking about her skills in designing, she said her designs are materialisation of her dreams.
Her co-operative earns approximately Rs. 20 lakhs per month and has received two state awards, two national awards and one international award.
She plans to do more humanitarian works in future by opening a green-house to shelter both old age and orphans and destitute people and also giving them employment.
