Sangwa: Lighting the way

At present, Nagaland-based Native Enterprises is producing 7 and 9 watts LED bulbs.

At present, Nagaland-based Native Enterprises is producing 7 and 9 watts LED bulbs.

Nagaland-based startup Native Enterprises producing LED lights

Kanili Kiho
Dimapur | January 24

If there is another promising pursuit that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Native Enterprises is one of them.

Launched only this month by I Sodangsoba Jamir, the enterprise in Dimapur manufactures indoor and outdoor LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights.

Jamir spent the last 15 years in Delhi, working in the marketing industry. The pandemic induced lockdown compelled him to return home in June, 2020 along with his wife and son. Jamir told The Morung Express that his initial plan was to stay here for some time with the family and gradually get back to work.

However, as the pandemic showed no signs of improvement, he was left doing nothing as weeks passed. That is when he started to notice that the problem of erratic voltage (power fluctuation) in Nagaland was still prevalent, as 15 years ago.

This problem bothered him to the point where he started to “think of other districts and especially the villages, how they must be suffering with low voltage,” posed Jamir.

He went on to ask himself, “What if I can do something with this issue and for the citizens?”

Jamir wasted no time and started to study the production of LED bulbs and lamps, for a couple of months. Then he went back to Delhi, vacated the house and took up training from one of the biggest LED production houses in India.

After earning his MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) UDYAM certificate, Jamir bought the things required for production and came back home. The enterprise is currently producing five lighting items, which includes a bulb, tube and lamp. He plans on making more items in the future, starting from conceal and panel LED lights to solar LED street lights to flood LED lights.

While the normal voltage should be between 220 – 240 volt, Jamir explained that here in Dimapur, it is usually below normal. The last time Jamir checked at his home in Aoyimti, it was only 183 volt, “which is way too less,” he stated.

After manufacturing the lights, Jamir tests all his products for at least one and a half hour between 90 – 100 volts and between 350 – 400 volts.

He assured that the components being used in their LED lights can sustain the frequent voltage fluctuations below or above the normal range, “which means that the lights will not go dim,” he said.

At present, the enterprise is producing 7 and 9 watts LED bulbs, which is convenient for domestic use, Jamir said.

Currently employing two technical assistants at his ‘small warehouse’ which is located in their residence, the 33-year old plans on expanding his manufacturing unit soon. Being new to Nagaland market, “for now, I’m trying to study the market,” Jamir shared.

He recently supplied 200 pieces of light bulbs to Mokokchung district and also dispatched a couple of cartons around Dimapur and Kohima.

Presently manufacturing and testing the products, Jamir also expressed gratitude to the Industry and Commerce Department of Nagaland, on the programmes being initiated for the migrant returnees who planned on staying back in Nagaland. He said that the webinar classes he took from different mentors gave him “the boost” he really needed.

Planning to stay back home for good, Jamir asserted that there are “many opportunities for us here, but the thing we Nagas lack is a hunger for exploration.”

While maintaining lack of capital should not be an excuse, he said that one can start with even a small amount of Rs 5 thousand or 50 thousand or 5 lakh depending on one’s interest and situation. For Jamir, the obvious choice was electronics as he had a knack for it even as a young boy. “We only have to go for it and take control of the market,” he added.

He also added that, “We need to start supporting local businesses that are coming up in the state.”

“We are capable of doing a lot of things, if we only start to experiment. But sometimes, you just wait for the right time. Don’t harm your body or your mind. Take it easy and see wherever it goes,” he said. 

While his mother-in-law helped him choose the name ‘Native Enterprises,’ his wife helped him with the brand name ‘Sangwa,’ meaning ‘light’ in the Ao language.

“It simply holds the meaning of light to my new venture, light to the State, light to the citizens, light everywhere you know.”