Chuchuyimlang hopes to be an industrial hub as it becomes first HiEERA village in India

Immediate target: Manufacture athleisure and fortified fruits in Chuchuyimlang

Chuchuyimlang village in Mokokchung made history today (2 May) by being designated as India’s first HiEERA village, coinciding with the vibrant festivities of the Moatsu festival. HiEERA, an acronym for High-Impact Entrepreneurs from Emerging Regions for Action, is spearheaded by HiEERA Development Projects Ltd, a flagship initiative of the Empretec India Foundation (EIF).

Arnab Chakrabortty, Director of EIF, said they bring HiEERA’s expertise to train entrepreneurs and nurture vital skills. Through immersive village projects, EIF fosters collaboration between entrepreneurs and communities, designing programs aligned with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable success, specifically emphasizing economic development.

Ao Sanen Pongen, Chairman of Chuchuyimlang Village Council, elaborated that the project has earmarked two components: athleisure and fortified fruits. Pongen stated that the project will focus on apparels, garments, and shoes for athleisure products.

“Hopefully, they will be using local products such as bamboo and other fibers for making such,” he said, adding that the other component is fortified fruits, where fruits are infused with minerals and vitamins to increase their market value.

“We are also encouraging them to come up with more products and diversification of products, and hopefully they will come up with them. But they also don’t want to jump into the development process in a big way. They want to start small and grow from there,” said Pongen.

Pongen insisted on the crucial role that the community should play, stating, many projects are being unable to be taken up as “there is nobody to do the linkages.”

“If the community support is not there, sourcing even the labor becomes difficult; we cannot import all the expertise unless the community is there to support it,” added Pongen.

Pongen also stressed that the ideas of importing expertise and labor to carry out business would be ‘very short term’ and therefore insisted on community support.

With 25 years of experience in footwear manufacturing in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, and Orissa, Niren Anand, Senior Advisor of EIF, said that they are looking to transfer the technology used in those countries to Chuchuyimlang.

“India, because of its population and capability, has a huge demand for sports footwear. We export zero percent, but the demand is so high that we are unable to supply it,” said Anand, adding that there is a lot of opportunity in the village.

‘There can be great potential for growth, opportunity, business, and success for the whole community with the help of the Chuchuyimlang community,’ added Anand.

Why was Chuchuyimlang selected for HiERRA?

According to Arnab Chakrabortty, Director of EIF,Chuchuyimlang was selected because Chairman of Chuchuyimlang Village Council, Ao Sanen Pongen took up the program at a personal level and started practicing the behavior of Empretec program and took decision at the village council level.

“There was transference from the individual level to the organizational level. The chief of the village himself came in saying he will practice it. He also identified a few other persons who practiced it along with him and even people outside of Chuchu who have roots here. Such behaviors become bridges. If we see this transference in other village, we will certainly go to other village as well,” said Chakrabortty.

According to Chakrabortty, the behaviors needed are to practice self independence and confidence, goal setting, systematic planning and monitoring, persuasion and networking, demanding for efficiency and quality.

P Tokugha Achumi, Director of Industries and Commerce said the department is extending their support to Chuchuyimlang because the community has got land. “For any kind of activity and infrastructure, we need land; we also know that they have the community back up so we know we can do something in a small way but we can make it grow. That is why we are here,” said Achumi.

Kekhrievor Kevichusa IPoS, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Kohima acknowledged that Chuchuyimlang was the first village that came forward and presented a holistic vision of how they wish to develop which he called a very welcoming development.

Significance of HiERRA

Ao Sanen Pongen, Chairman of Chuchuyimlang Village Council, expressed strong confidence in the transformative impact of the EIF on local entrepreneurs. He highlighted how EIF has not only nurtured their ideas but also honed their business acumen and instilled ethical business practices.

“Local people are heavily involved. Empretec has tied them up with HiERRA who are already running business so I think two crucial aspects have already been tied up. Investor commitment has already been done and we are helping the department to help us in finding funds in the ministry,” he said.

He highlighted the dual significance of HiERRA foreseeing immediate benefits such as job creation and village recognition alongside the long-term vision of establishing the area as an industrial hub.

Pongen also expressed optimism about forthcoming aggregation centers in Changtongya and Longnak, envisioning them as ‘aggregation centers’ for products made in Changtongya and with the help of certain logistics be exported to other parts of the country as well.

“The idea would be to transform the village into an industrial area,” added Pongen.

Meanwhile, Jongpong Pongen, Tatar of Chuchuyimlang, expressed that this achievement has been a long-awaited prayer answered. He hoped for the project’s success and anticipated its positive impact on the village.

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