Loemi was dazzled by beads since she was a child. When she first held them in the cup of her palm, she felt as if she was holding tiny spheres of light. Red, green, violet, and blue – stretched in strings, carved in various geometric designs. It offered a world of its own.

She has been fascinated by the prospect of wearing them – piercing a thread through them to make a bracelet, an earring or a chic choker. Growing up, she started experimenting with beads. She would string them together, fashion them in her imagination, and ultimately come up with a beautiful piece of jewellery. She would play around with different colours, and try different shapes and sizes. Every arrangement she conjured, by default, became her own design. Little did she know that growing up, her hobby would become a promising career option. Being the first in her family, she has pioneered her way into the world of jewellery making.

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“I am not afraid to fail”, she says. She never stops believing in what she does. Her ambition is fuelled by her desire to be independent, she said. To not depend on anyone, but herself. And for that, she is grateful to God; she said – who has shown her the light and blessed her with the art of arranging beads on a string. When asked if she wanted to diversify her business, she replied that she would like to come up with unique shawls and traditional Mekhalas with beads sewn on – her imagination knew no bounds. But with all this excitement and young age energy, comes the catch of geography.

Tuensang is one of the most remotely located districts in India. Marked by difficult terrain and a certain backwardness which seeps into many contours, the path for Loemi seems distraught. Embroiled in political turmoil for years now, the economy of Tuensang stands deeply divided by the chasm of class. Loemi’s access to the required economic and social capital is determined by her family’s financial standing. This is true for most of the entrepreneurs in the district. The chase for ‘quick money’, again is a major factor holding back the rise of entrepreneurship; For all sustainability is thwarted by the primacy for gratification.

Development in Tuensang is defined in terms of its inherent challenges. So, when it comes to running your own business, especially for women – the foot soldiers of social, financial and logistical challenges come running. The fact of starting one’s own business instead of preparing for government jobs does not echo well with public sentiment. Overt dependence on parents for a living, (as Loemi said) erodes that fire by an irreplaceable spark which, otherwise, would have kept the youth chasing their dreams. The opportunities of microfinance evade most small households, partly by ignorance and often due to a history of debt default. Even if the former two could be overcome somehow, another new problem always seemed to crop up, out of nowhere. The majority of the small, micro or medium enterprises cease to flourish or even function properly, due to exorbitant transportation and logistical challenges.

Loemi too goes through these challenges on a day-to-day basis. The lack of raw materials, exorbitant rates of transport and lack of business support, in general, disappoints her. She had been looking for some exquisitely designed beads, which she says are only found in the state capital and beyond. To import them costs her much more than she can charge her customers. She also points out the common perception attached to business in general. The public preference for desk jobs and office holders often deters the rise of entrepreneurs. It slowly weakens the will, she said and corrodes the overall work ethic.

Yet, it has been over a year since she started taking personal orders for the jewellery of various kinds. She’s been gaining quite a reputation, especially among the local youth, for her work. Loemi subscribes to the strategy of Caveat Emptor. Unlike the normal trend of arbitrary pricing in Tuensang, her strategy is one of a kind. ‘I personally go to meet the customers and make a note of their preferences’, she said. These notes not only translate into the symmetry of beads but also, into on-demand customized ear-ring. Part of Loemi’s success accrues from this personal endeavour she undertakes on her own.

The aspirations of the youth are formed under the shadow of its society. The shadow is determined by where society stands. Development indicators dictate that shape, and, thereby, the pool of ambitions it harbours in its space.

In Tuensang, there comes a time in every student’s life when they hop on the bandwagon of civil service preparation. Once you fill out the form, no one can ask what you will do with your life! The preparation averts the possibility of other, often much better forms of livelihood. And slowly melts into the frustration of unemployment and often, drug abuse. Nothing hinders business more than, this commonly followed trend – which stems from Nagaland’s current state of underdevelopment. But Loemi will not budge to the pressure. She said, her passion and true motivations lay in forging her business. But this is an exception, not the rule. The general perception towards entrepreneurship in Tuensang is still underwhelming. When asked whether her friends are planning to start their own businesses, She replied with a dispiriting “No.”

A different blue started dissolving in the blues of the afternoon. Light strokes of faded red appeared slowly behind the clouds. It was about time, she gestured. The questionnaire was almost filled. The café owner shut the windows one by one, purloining the light it offered.

Café’s about to close, she smiled, without actually saying the words.

Any final comments?

Read the last line of the questionnaire. Loemi did not have anything to say. She put a big hyphen on the blank column, placing the cap on the pen.

Click!

It was getting cold. She started pressing her palms together. Breathing into them to generate heat. There was a discernible reluctance; she was holding in what she wanted to say, but she couldn’t. It appeared in the uneasiness of her expression. The rubbing of her palms. Her fleeting attention. I will take your leave now, she gestured. Prepared to leave, her bag over on her shoulders., she stood still for a moment tearing the side nail off her thumb. And suddenly, as if in an afterthought she scoffed, ‘They can slingshot any scheme they want. Inject all those cash transfers. Chuck policy over policy down the rugged top-down framework. Make credit rain from bank counters. Offer grants and assure explanations.

But nothing will change until and unless someone begins to understand the real problem’.