Meet Nongthombam Rita, the unstoppable 45-year-old entrepreneur from Imphal’s Top Makha Leikai. What started as a small tea and snack stall outside her home is now Leimalen Foods—a thriving business putting a modern spin on Manipur’s traditional tastes. Rita’s journey took off after the Ningol Chakouba festival, inspiring her to innovate indigenous snacks like the ever-popular 'Chakhao Gulla,' a healthy black rice delicacy.
00:01Meet 45-year-old Nongtombam Rita from Top Makkah Likai, Imphal.
00:08Once running a small tea and snack stall outside her home,
00:12Rita is now the proud founder of Lemalian Foods.
00:16Her unit is giving a modern twist to Manipur's traditional flavours.
00:30Around 20 local women work daily to prepare indigenous snacks,
00:40the most popular being Chakao Gula, a sweet, healthy treat made from black rice.
00:47Rita got the idea during the traditional Ningol Chakaoba festival.
00:52In 2020, she rented a machine from the government and began production.
00:57Today, her product is widely popular across Manipur.
01:01Nongtombam Rita, Institute of Technology and Applegance,
01:04Student of Nongtombam Rita, Director of Manipur
01:10When we're not getting a lot of equipment, we will get rid of the information and the information we have.
01:19We do not have time to get rid of the information we have to do.
01:26Rita's initiative is not only reviving traditional delicacies, it's also transforming lives.
01:48By turning age-old recipes into market-ready products, she's opened up new avenues of livelihood for dozens of local women.
01:58These women, while expertly balancing their household responsibilities, work with dedication and care, ensuring every product meets high standards of hygiene and quality.
02:11Through their efforts, they are not only preserving culinary heritage, but also uplifting their families and strengthening the local economy.
02:21During the festive season, especially Ningol Chakauba, Rita's products fly off the shelves with demand soaring across the state.
02:40Her dream is to see these traditional flavors grace every home in Manipur, giving age-old recipes a fresh, modern identity.
02:50Nongthomba Rita has become a beacon of inspiration for women across Manipur, a symbol of self-reliance, resilience and the power of turning passion into purpose.
