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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 64932, member: 636"]
Turning her childhood admiration for the lotus flower into a business, Tongbram Bijiyashanti Devi from Manipur has built a venture that empowers women across her community. The Bishenpur district native founded Sanajing Sana Thambal, a startup that converts lotus stems into sustainable fiber, creating livelihoods for women living near Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.

Bijiyashanti credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting women’s empowerment and economic growth in the region. Her innovation gained national attention after the Prime Minister mentioned her in his “Mann Ki Baat” program in 2020 and spoke with her again in 2023 to commend her expanding team. She plans to employ 100 women and has received interest from U.S. buyers for her lotus fiber products.

Launched in 2018 after four years of research, her company has become a model for sustainable textiles and women-led entrepreneurship. Many women on her team work from home, balancing family duties with earning an income. Her colleague, Gurumem Jiteshwari Devi, said that government efforts have opened new opportunities for women across the Northeast.
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