Manipur Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Friday expressed that the state can generate revenue by tapping into the benefits of abundantly available natural resources as it is not commercially viable for big industries due to its geographical location.
Govindas was speaking at the relaunching of Ima Chenghi (traditional Herbal Shampoo) on Friday. The programme was organised by the Proprietor of Holistic Enterprise at the Conference Hall of Minister Works and YAS, Old Secretariat, Imphal.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Govindas appreciated the company for taking the initiative of producing traditional or natural shampoo in a standardised form.
The venture of Holistic Company will not only generate income but also revive the age-old traditional practices of using Chenghi (hair washer in local name) which was almost on the verge of extinction, the minister said.
He said that because of its geographical location, Manipur is not commercially viable for big industries but can earn revenue from naturally available natural resources by producing various daily used items like fragrance, test maker, cosmetic products, etc.
The youth of the present generation should start researching all such resources, develop an innovative idea that can convert all such wildly grown plants into wealth, he added.
Founder of Holistic Enterprise, Sanasam Birendra said that with an objective to revive the long-neglected tradition of using Chenghi, they had developed the idea of producing processed readymade and packaged herbal shampoo of Manipur, Ima Chenghi.
The enterprise officially launched the product in 2016 as Ima Chenghi and its demand is growing each year as the company has started exporting outside the state, he said while informing that the processed traditional shampoo is made from 25 medicinal, aromatic and herbal plants grown in the state.
He extended his gratitude to ICAR and CSIR-NEIST for their support and guidance from the beginning of their company till date.
During the function, Oinam Constituency MLA I Nalini Devi; joint director of ICAR, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, I Meghachandra Singh; senior principal scientist, CSIR-NEIST, Imphal Lamphelpat, H Birkumar Singh; senior scientist of ICAR, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, SS Roy; liaison officer, planning department, Y Rajendra Singh and film luminary also a brand ambassador of Ima Chenghi, Tonthoi Leishangtham also attended as president and guests of honour respectively.
