Ukhrul: Credit Union Ukhrul, a microfinancial institution, marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its Silver Jubilee, commemorating 25 years of service from 1998 to 2024. The celebration took place on May 1 at the CU Complex Conference Hall situated in Phungreitang West, Ukhrul, Manipur.
As the sole financial institution serving the Tangkhul area, Credit Union Ukhrul has endured the test of time, steadfastly supporting the community from its inception to the present day.
“Credit Union was established in the year 1998. It is because of God’s grace that He opened the door for us to celebrate this 25th Silver Jubilee. We give all the glory & honour to him,” said Avai Horam, President, of Credit Union.
“The magnitude of the roles and responsibilities of Credit Union is a serious one. Therefore, let every young and old generation economically unite and walk hand in hand judiciously in the land of Tangkhuls. Let God be the keeper and preserve CU to be a reflection for the younger generation,” said Dr Ngahorshai Luithui, Convenor, Silver Jubilee Committee, Credit Union, Ukhrul.
Luithui said that there is a unique story of God’s love in Tangkhul Land. William Pettigrew brought light to the Tangkhuls as he opened his eyes spiritually and introduced an education system that has helped people to grow and enhance the region’s economy as well.
He expressed his gratitude to Capt. Ashok Y. Tipnis, the man who established Volunteers for Village Development (VVD), his family & colleagues for their needed help & unceasing support in setting up various societies to improve the economy of people in the region.
R.S. Jollyson, President Incharge, TNL expressed his appreciation to the Credit Union for achieving the significant landmark. He urged the Tangkhuls to think beyond their individual cocoons as there are hardly any people who have the desire to work together as partners and take up bigger projects.
“Those educated Tangkhuls and well-to-do can collaborate, invest and work together to improve the education system. To mould the children of our community and not for profit-oriented and commercialized purposes. Among all the worst step-motherly treatment given to us by the Manipur government is education according to my perspective. To kill a generation is to deprive education. It takes time to build the system but to build a wealthy, healthy & peaceful society, we need to focus on education. When we talk about investment, let’s not only go business or economy but I would like to appeal to kindly focus on education as well,” said Jollyson, in his speech as one of the Guests of Honour for the function.
As CU is an association of people united by a common bond or community of interest joined together in a cooperative endeavour, Tennyson Kazingmei, former Project Director, VVD, opined “Credit Union is an idea. Credit Union is not only a program. It is not only an activity. It is an idea. We need to work on that idea or otherwise, the idea is dead. But observing a celebration like this is I think you have work on the idea.”
Kazingmei further explained that Credit Union is ownership. “Credit Union is an enterprise and enterprising because you have to have very meaningful purposeful activities in your mind. And not only in your mind but you have to do those activities. Else, even if you take a loan today from Credit Union, and if your investment is not enterprising, you are a dead body. Credit Union is creativity,” said Kazingmei as he released the ‘Credit Union Silver Jubilee Souvenir (1998-2024) as a Guest of honour for the function.
As CU celebrated its 25 years of entrepreneurial journey, Luckson Kengoo, Managing Board Director, Credit Union, said that it was a good opportunity to reflect on the past, hoping that it will make the Tangkhul community as one of the most important societies in the field of financial institutions for economic sustainability
Meanwhile, MLA Ram Muivah, extended his compliments to the founders/pioneers and current promoters of CU for their foresight and vision. He said, “In the absence of adequate lending institutes in Ukhrul, limited availability of bank branches, etc, Credit Union has been rendering yeoman service in the field of advancing loans to the Tangkhul people in particular and Manipur in general over the past 25 years & counting. Please keep up the momentum. It should be the dream and vision of the Credit Union to one day graduate into a successful bank.”
Kengoo Zuringla, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul, expressed her appreciation to the few visionaries of CU and as a chief guest of the Silver Jubilee Celebration. “The union is a formation of retired government servants who have committed themselves to render financial assistance to those in need by establishing a financial credit institution. The vision of the pioneers who started this venture to serve the Tangkhul have come a long way in alleviating the difficulties faced by those who needed financial assistance from banking institutions,” concludes Kengoo.
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Credit Union Ukhrul is a registered body under the Cooperative Society Act. It is a micro financial institution with thousands of customers created by broad-minded groups of societies and individuals to help the community.
Its objective is to provide hassle free quality service and lend out money at a minimum interest rate to their clients with full transparency. CU believes in protecting client privacy in transactions and services which will remain anonymous according to client needs.
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