Monalisa Chanu: AN ‘ ECO-PRENEUR '

People from Manipur are known for their zeal when it comes to the environment. Moreover, the women are known for their valour, skills and participation in social, economic, political and cultural activities.

- Mumeninaz Zaman

One perfect example of such rare sort is a young girl or ‘Chanu’- as it is said in Manipur- Ngangom Monalisa Chanu, an environmentalist and eco-preneur who has ventured on a mission of giving back to the nature while providing employment opportunities for the local women, who often remains behind the closed doors, thereby giving them a reason to smile.

Every time we use a pen, we relentlessly discard it without giving a second thought about the pile of hazard we are contributing to. While we talk and write about plastic pollution, we tend to ignore the small things which we use in our daily life. Monalisa initiated her journey as an entrepreneur by manufacturing eco-friendly products like pen, pencil, paper and non-woven bags. Her love for nature and the desire to become an entrepreneur defying all odds saw the light of the day when she came up with her start-up firm Chanu Associates. The name of Monalisa’s products is ENVI which means environment under her brand name CHANU- which signifies the pressing issue of women empowerment.

Having studied in Chandigarh, the green and clean city inspired her to do something for her own state. On the other hand, back in Manipur she witnessed how people unaware of the bad effect of plastic use polythene bags and threw it everywhere in roads and markets which often block the drainage systems.