Imphal, May 22: A doctoral scholar from Manipur University who transformed a ₹3,000 seed investment into a handicraft enterprise projecting a turnover of ₹3 crore was received by Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 19.
Sanju Akoijam, a PhD student in the Department of Economics at Manipur University in Canchipur, was the only woman representative from Manipur among a group of artisans and weavers from northeastern states invited for the interaction.
The invited participants had earlier displayed Kauna grass crafts and traditional handmade products during the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in January.
During the visit, the artisans and weavers were presented with pashmina shawls, hosted for lunch and taken on a guided tour of the presidential estate.
Akoijam is the founder of H.I. Store, an Imphal-based online venture dealing in handcrafted Kauna grass products, dried floral arrangements and traditional gifts from the Northeast. Her work previously earned her a grant of ₹7 lakh after being recognised among the top 20 performers under the North Eastern Council’s NEEDP programme, facilitated through the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Following her return, Ganga Prasad Prasain felicitated her at his official chamber in recognition of her achievement in balancing academic research with entrepreneurship.
Akoijam credited two university mentors for helping shape her journey — Hanjabam Isworchandra Sharma, who supervised her doctoral research and encouraged sustainable livelihood initiatives, and Sorokhaibam Keshorjit Singh, who guided her during the early stages of pitching her business idea.
She said the support she received in the initial phase became an important foundation for her entrepreneurial journey.
Akoijam, who hails from Singjamei Makha Oinam Thingel in Imphal East, has emerged as an example of how entrepreneurship and academic pursuits can develop together to create sustainable opportunities.
