Nagaland: Daughter of vegetable vendor secures Top 15 in HSLC exam

May 30, 2023 43 Views No Comment

Phek, May 30 (MExN): Velu Theluo, daughter of a street vendor and aggregator who secured Top 15 rank in the NBSE HSLC exam 2023 with 96.50%, is being honoured and felicitated for her achievement.

Velu’s mother Nutsulu Theluo, a beneficiary of the ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors Program’ at Pfutsero has been working for the last 20 years as a street vendor cum aggregator, ferrying farm produce and local goods from Pfutsero to Dimapur and then buying essentials from Dimapur to sell upon her return.

Nutsulu leaves every Tuesday in the late evening, travelling the whole night to reach Dimapur just before dawn, usually targeting the Wednesday Bazaar in the state commercial hub. She then travels the whole night to reach her home without proper sleep.

It was during such a travel recently, while still in Dimapur that she received a call relaying the news that her daughter, Velu Theluo had secured the Top 15 position in the HSLC exams.

‘It was a joyous moment for her as she felt being rewarded for the years of hard work and commitment to provide education for her five children,’ an update from tEA stated.

Recognising the fact that Nutsulu has been a part of the ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors Program’ since 2017, and has been associated with The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA), the office conducted a felicitation programme to appreciate this achievement from the vegetable vending community.

At the programme, held at Pfutsero on May 29, a cheque of Rs 12,000 was handed to Velu Theluo, for her accomplishment by the office.

Sharing her story, Velu said that she has been consistently working hard following a specific routine, to achieve her goal.

She acknowledged the contributions of her teachers at the Chakhesang Mission Higher Secondary School, for being her driving force, making her believe in the possibility and helping her realise it. She now plans to pursue her further studies in the Science stream.

Growing up as the second youngest among five siblings, Velü narrated her childhood recollections of her mother’s hard work and sacrifice as the sole breadwinner in the family.

“Our mother raised us with the meagre income she made first with the small corner shop, which is now no more, and then with the vegetable vending business that she now does,” she states.

Velu’s father who is a social worker also actively encouraged her and gave her the liberty to give her best to her studies.

Speaking at the programme, Neikule Doulo, Head of Communications, tEA thanked the family for their hard work and breaking a glass ceiling for many other families in similar situations. She stated given the works that tEA has been doing with the vegetable vendors it was a momentous occasion even for the organisation.

She encouraged those present to collectively strive for excellence so that our communities will benefit from our contributions.

Chakhesang Mothers Association (CMA), President, Zhonelu Tunyi addressed the gathering and congratulated Velu and her parents for this milestone. Tunyi stated that in education there is no differentiation between genders and there is great opportunity for women to be at par with men, or even better. Highlighting the fact that girls are excelling in their respective fields, she hoped that the trend would continue and make women feel empowered in every aspect.

Zhonelu also stated that Velu’s achievement was not just for her family alone, but her entire community as a whole.

The programme was chaired by Chukhoyi Chiero, Zonal Head, Phek Zone who also mentioned the significance of this achievement for the street vending community, especially in the Phek district.