Assam district opens all-women market named after writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami

Assam’s Cachar district has opened its first all-women market in the name of Jnanpith award-winning writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami near the Indo-Bangladesh border

Assam’s Cachar district has opened its first all-women market in the name of Jnanpith award-winning writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami near the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Assam district opens all-women market named after writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami

Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli inaugurated the market shed named ‘Mamoni Bazar’ at Dinnathpur Bagicha under Katigorah assembly constituency on Friday afternoon.

In this market shed, only women sellers will be allowed to sell products. An all-women market is nothing new in Assam but this is the first one in the Barak Valley part of the state.

Assam’s first all-women market was opened two years back in Namrup district. It was inspired by Manipur’s first all-women market named ‘Ima Keithel’.

Talking about the naming of the market shed after Mamoni Raisom Goswami, deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli said that while she was in Hyderabad and came to know about her posting in Assam, she started reading about the state. “A friend suggested me to read Moth eaten Howdah of the Tusker written by Mamoni Raisom Goswami. The book helped me get introduced to the taste, sweetness and strength of Assam. When we were planning to name the market, the first name that came to my mind was Mamoni Raisom Goswami.”

“Women empowerment is an idea we should discuss more because it helps the women to be independent. Women are the backbone of a family - she cooks, takes care of the children, teaches them and even tries to save money in her own little way for the future of her family. Building an all-women market was undoubtedly an enthusiastic step towards women empowerment and we are making such kinds of markets in other parts of the district as well. The development of a woman can aid the development of the entire family, which in turn will help develop our district,” she added.

Chairman of Cachar Zilla Parishad, Amitabh Rai, informed that a sum of rupees 10 lakhs was spent for the construction of the market shed under the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT). The scheme was taken up under a sustainable convergence project that will be carried out in the long run and regular monitoring by the concerned district heads, such as agriculture, zilla parishad, fishery, handloom, textile and NRLM etc. The progress of the markets will be monthly reviewed by the officials of the administration.

He said, “We are training women under SHGs to grow valuable agricultural products. They are also making other products using local crafts which can be sold in these markets. There will be only women vendors in the market which will look unique. With this, we are trying to give a message to society that women can be leaders. We are happy that the market has been named after legendary writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami. This will encourage women and also give a message to society.”

In past also Cachar district administration took steps towards women empowerment. In this year assembly election, there were 200 all-women polling centres in Cachar - the highest in Assam. It was praised widely by many including the Election Commission of India.