Archives: Our Team

Kiranrani Thokcham is working on an idea where she wants to start Stevai Sugar free products. Having completed her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and while looking for a job, her interest  in organic farming prompted her to come up with an idea of starting an organic farm and focus on producing organic plants of high value. Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute aka MeethiTulsi.

Kiranrani is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

Khwairakpam Nirmala Devi is the proprietor of the Loktak Homestay and Hospitality Service which provides homely short stay for the budget travellers and tourists who want to explore the Manipur Culture, Tradition, Arts and environment specially the beauty scenario of the Loktak Lake. Loktak Homestays and Hospitality Services, Sendra is located at about 45 km from the state capital Imphal and on the periphery of the Loktak lake, the largest freshwater lake, and one of the most bio-diverse places in the entire North-eastern India.

Nirmala is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

Product Catalogue – Loktak Homestays

For more details:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lhhs9/

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=66vj63d2ieq5&utm_content=c6g22l1

Kholia, an architect by profession, plans on venturing into Agar business. She has started the plantation with hired workers. Being a freelance architect, she had the opportunity of working in different projects which has helped her to fund the baseline for her enterprise; harvesting Agar-wood trees in Nagaland as it exhibits a suitable topography which can cultivate Agar-wood trees locally. Northeast is a gem that is yet to be genuinely appreciated. She is in the notion that people don’t fully realise the wide scope of forestry in this region and intends to be on top, by the time the masses start to actually value it for what it can produce.

This project has been in talks for two years before she laid down the foundation. She had to financially procure funds from her projects as an architect in order to move further into her venture.  Notably, she does not acquire years of experience in the forestry sector but father has held a total of 10 years of expertise in farming and cultivation of sandalwood trees and extraction in essential oils, hence entering in this line of business won’t be a completely new scenario for her.She is in contact with people in similar sectors prior to venturing into this field. She worked alongside her father, watched first hand on how cultivation works, the kind of people they meet in order to fulfil demands.

Kholia is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

Ketile runs Handloom Simu Nagaland, an enterprise run by a mother and daughter duo. Ketile learnt the art of weaving from her mother who has been in back-strap weaving for more than 50 years. Registered as sole proprietorship in 2001 as M/S Weaving and Knitting Unit and operates as a small handloom unit in Dimapur, Nagaland. She joined her mother to help preserve traditional craft and revive a dying art. They make mostly traditional products such as wraparound (mekhalas), shawls, cowrie shell stoles, waistcoats with traditional textile, mufflers, neck-ties and have also ventured into accessories such as ladies shoulder bag, pouches, Men’s crossbody, Laptop sleeve, drawstrings and occasionally beading necklaces.

She shares her vision to keep celebrating traditional handlooms by supporting local artisans through sustainable employment. Their mission is to achieve world standard quality products using traditional methods of weaving while making profits to sustain and support local weavers as well as continuing the legacy of age old method of weaving. They employ and give opportunities to women weavers. This way the traditional culture, customs, beliefs and attires which are getting forgotten will be preserved. And that was the sole reason why her mother never gave up weaving. There’s a story behind every cloth and every design. Their business model is a combination of old and new. Old age traditions and New by incorporating modern usage and products.

Ketile is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

Keren Sumi is the founder of Keren Sumi Finishing School. She is an Image consultant specializing in visual appearance, etiquettes, verbal and non-verbal communications. Through her school, she counsels individuals and corporate clients on grooming, dressing, communication and behavioural skills and public speaking through individual consultations, presentations, workshops and seminars.

She is trained at the Image Consulting Business Institute (ICBI) Mumbai, where she learned the finer points of image management and soft skills for personal and professional success. She had done modelling and participated at beauty pageants before venturing to Mumbai to equip herself with better skills. She wanted to bring back this knowledge amongst the girls of Nagaland who were not in a position to get such opportunities and exposure. As an image consultant, Keren is able to coach aspiring models, businessmen, office workers and even children. Keren has worked with mentors such as Diana Matter at Wasan Hub Knowledge and also trained under the famous RitikaRamtri Studio in Pune. In the famous Gladrags Academy, Keren was groomed by none other than diva of style, Maureen Wadia.

Keren is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

For more details:

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/kerensumifinishingschool/?hl=en

Started as a proprietor of Mivi Studio, Kavi is looking to expand her horizon by opening art studio “Spaces”. Through her studio she intends to continue her offerings to personalised photography, calligraphy art and other art-based work. Her major focus has been on providing emotional and sentimental outcomes in her work. Her mission is to help individuals to pause and absorb experiences by helping them capture a long-lasting impression of their special moments. She also believes in slow art and wants to preserve the beauty of handmade crafts. As a result, she wants to extend her studio to invite, inspire and promote young minds to come and express their hobbies. She is a reserved, but has a lot of clarity in terms of business.

Kavi is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

For more details:

Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/mivistudio

Jayeeta Hazarika is a researcher and an expert in the field of waste management.  Shewants to start an enterprise in waste management/ Fecal matter for compost that focuses on organic and natural growth promoters and enhancers for cash crops and horticulture.It will also work on natural pest repellents curated to suit specific disease conditions.

She possess technical skills for supporting her business idea and wants to put her knowledge to good use for farmers who can benefit and avert their reliance on chemical fertilizers. It will also bring in employment generation. Her main product would be developing feed for livestock’s/fishes and she also wants to work on waste management.

Jayeeta is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

Inakhunbi initiated her venture on food processing business under the name “Lanchenbi Foods”, in July 2019. A home-based venture, she is from Manipur and is undertaking pickle-making through Lanchenbi foods. She has expanded her products to papad making using various ingredients. Apart from this, she also has bakery items like doughnuts, ladoos, samosas and Khajoor etc., in her list.

Inakhunbi  is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

Aghü was started by Imali and her sister Viboli Hesso in the back garden of their parents’ home in Dimapur, Nagaland. Aghü is derived fromSümi Naga which means roots. Aghü emerged as a joint project that could combine the passion & expertise and explore potential of Naga artisanal craftsmanship and eventually expand to the whole Northeast region.

Aghü engages with local craftsmen of Nagaland to produce contemporary, stylish, and elegant pieces for the modern home. The Naga history of craftsmanship inspires mysticism, represents the vibrant culture, and portrays tales of creativity.  They celebrate the traditional Naga techniques and intend to share this through their products. All their artisans are based in Nagaland and engage in traditional craftsmanship. Aghü rewards the craftsmen with payment for their work and maintains a relationship of mutual trust and respect. They aim to strengthen and support the craftsmen and harness the transformative power of an efficient business.

All Aghü products are natural, sustainable, and ethically sourced locally.  Every product is individually handpicked and curates a small collection seasonally.  They do not produce commercially; all the collections are mindful, seek to prevent waste, and can be considered a collectible.

Imali is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

For more details:

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aghuindia/?hl=en

Grace Rephung YL is the founder of EYAR production(Enthusiastic Young Adventurous Realist) formed on 6th October 2019 based out of Manipur. The production house is a non-profit production house making films based on women and social issues in her community with an aim to bring changes and awareness in the society and also to promote the hidden talents of each talented and committed person. She has directed and produced 2 films so far- IKALÃ (My fate) short films based on violence against women and INING IPHEIKAR(based on the consequences of one misstep). This two films are based on true story with English subtitles so everyone can understand.

EYAR was initiated with a vision to secure women empowerment. Despite the progress and development that have taken shape through various government schemes and NGOs yet women are often ignored and have no scope and deprived of the opportunities. Since its inception EYAR pledge to improve lives and lifestyles to inspire positive change to improve social environment and to contribute to socio-economic development through freedom and equality focuses on promoting talented unemployed youth and to empower women by providing them the platform to showcase their talent in acting, singing and also through trainings and technical assistance. They organised singing competitions during the Pandemic lockdown with attractive prizes.

Grace is from Cohort 2.0 of Project Her&Now.

For more details:

Facebookpage:https://www.facebook.com/groups/423556675172568/about