GNM Students of SPION Visit Women-Led Co-operative in Namchi

Gangtak: A group of 20 first-year General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) students from the Sikkim Professional Institute of Nursing (SPION), 8th Mile Budang, Soreng District, recently visited the Sikkim Pragatishil Nari Co-operative Society Ltd. in Nandugaon, Namchi District. The visit, part of their Community Health Nursing curriculum, aimed to provide practical exposure to the relationship between nutrition, public health, and sustainable livelihoods. The tour was supervised by a faculty tutor and offered students first hand insight into food hygiene and small-scale food processing. The cooperative, run by a local women's self-help group, is known for producing hygienic, locally made food items such as pickles, jams, juices, and turmeric powder. Sunita Gadaily, President of the co-operative society, welcomed the students and shared the organization’s mission and activities. Students engaged in interactive sessions with the workers, learning about food safety, preservation techniques, and nutritional content. They also gained perspective on the entrepreneurial efforts and challenges faced by women in rural food processing businesses. The visit highlighted the vital role of community-based women’s enterprises in promoting health, economic independence, and sustainability. SPION expressed gratitude to the co-operative society for their hospitality and informative engagement.