Manipur based Renu Handloom and Handicraft Cooperative Society symbolizes what is good in the co-operative model. Though small it has yet potential of taking the women to newer heights.
On Women’s Day its name cropped up in several cooperative conferences, thanks to the steely determination of its Chairwoman Renu Devi. In the programme organized by NCUI on this day, NCDC Managing Director Sandeep Kumar Nayak praised Renu Co-operative and said that it has gone overseas by building a showroom in Bangladesh. Nayak knows this as NCDC has been hand-holding Renu Co-op from its inception.
Another great initiative which NCDC MD may or may not know is the fact that Renu Co-op has set up a unique orphanage home in Manipur. There are more than 20 orphan girl children in a work shed whom the society is providing with free training and accommodation.
It bears recall that this is the only cooperative society from Manipur that received accolades and awards from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Laxman Rao Inamdar centenary celebrations organized by Sahakar Bharati in
While talking to this correspondent from Imphal, Renu Devi the founder of the society said “we are also planning to train 3000 members to provide them with skill development training, job placement opportunity”.
Besides doing several good works, the Society adopted a cooperative model to change the lives of poor families, However, Renu is very disappointed with the government and and has sought PM Narendra Modi’s help. The society wants to work and produce things with its own working capital”, she said.
Recalling the history, Renu Devi informed that the society was established with only 130 members in 1992. The Society had financial help of Rs. 1.8 lakh from Manipur Sate Cooperative Bank in 1995 and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) had given about Rs 20 lakh in 2005.
“Presently, there are 1,110 members associated with the society and they are paid according to the design and their working potential. The society has earned a net profit of 1.5 crore in the last financial year”, she informed.
Meanwhile, the society has also constructed 2 worksheds for handloom and handicrafts separately with 36 
Recently, the society has opened its 28 branches which were inaugurated by Nemcha Kipgen, Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister of State in Imphal. The Minister praised the work of Renu Handloom and said if we have more people like Renu, Manipur will become developed through the cooperative society.
The Renu handloom and handicraft makes only pure silk, cotton and Kauna craft including saree, shawls, kitchen set, cushion cover, bed cover, file cover, dining liner, curtain, ladies bag, Kauna pen stands, laundery bag and others.
These are sold offline and online via with the society website as well as other online portals including Indiamart, social media.
Renu said, the Society has been tied up with many companies for digital marketing including Probasics, Indiamart.