DIMAPUR — The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) on May 29 felicitated Velu Theluo, the daughter of street vendor and aggregator, who secured the top 15 position in the HSLC exams 2023 with 96.50% pass percentage.
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The felicitation programme was held at Pfutsero where tEA handed a cheque of INR 12,000 to Velu Theluo for her accomplishment, an update informed.
The HSLC topper is the daughter of Nutsulu Theluo, a street vendor and beneficiary of tEA’s ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme.’ Nutsulu 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 them upon her return.
It was a joyous moment for Nutsulu after hearing the news of her daughter excelling in the HSLC exams as she felt rewarded for the years of hardwork and commitment to provide education for her five children.
Recognising the fact that she has been a part of the ‘Uplifting Women Street Vendors Programme’ since 2017, the tEA conducted the felicitation programme to appreciate the achievement from the vegetable vending community.
Speaking at the programme, tEA Head of Communications, Neikule Doulo, thanked the family for their hard work and breaking the glass ceiling for many other families in similar situations.
She stated that given the works that tEA has been doing with the vegetable vendors, it was a momentous occasion even for the organisation. Duolo encouraged those present to collectively strive for excellence so that “our communities will benefit from our contributions.”
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]President of Chakhesang Mothers’ Association (CMA) ZhoneluTunyi congratulated Velu and her parents for reaching a milestone.
The CMA president said in education there is no differentiation between genders and that 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, Tunyi hoped that the trend would continue and make women feel empowered in every aspect. She also stated that Velu’s achievement was not just for her family alone, but her entire community as a whole.
Sharing her story to the tEA team members, 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. She now plans to pursue her further studies in the Science stream.
Growing up as the second youngest among five siblings, Velu narrated her childhood recollections of her mother’s hard work and sacrifice as the sole breadwinner in the family.
Also read: ANPSA Wokha felicitates HSLC topper
“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 said.
Velu’s father who is a social worker also actively encouraged her and gave her the liberty to give her best to her studies.