|
Rukkiya, Chavakkad, Thrissur |
|
|
|
Download Database of featured talents. (Excel file) talents. (Excel file, |
Rukkiya of Chavakkad was a beedi worker with a dumb husband, who had recently lost his job as a cleaner in a private bus. Add to this her sick mother and 3 children and the picture of her burden would be complete.
When the wages from rolling beedi became insufficient to run the family, Rukkiya sought the help of neighbourhood group of Kudumbashree Poverty Eradication Mission. She had earlier worked in a ‘crassi’ (precast concrete railing) making unit and now sought possibility of making it on her own. With the help of the Mission, she prepared a project report and submitted to State Bank of Travancore. While the bank sanctioned Rs.15000 as the first instalment of loan, she received a subsidy from the USEP programme. With that money she started the 'crassi' making unit.
After getting the necessary moulds, the husband and wife duo gathered the other resources like cement, steel and sand. By July 1999 when they started production, the bank issued the second installment also. Hard workers, Rukkiya and her husband were able to repay half the loan by the end of the year. The bank therefore found them credit-worthy to advance another loan of Rs 30000, which they used to expand the business.
After deducting their wages, the couple is able to save about Rs.150 per day, which they use to repay the loan as well as deposit for needy days. They now plan to expand the business by producing window and door frames besides opening a sales counter at Thiruvatra. Their 2 daughters and son help them in the midst of their academic pursuits.
Her success story shows how it isn’t high education or technical knowhow that is needed to start or run a business. Rather it is the necessity, the will power and the resolve that are assets.
Rukkiya and husband making crassis
Courtesy: Vidyadharan, Small Steps Giant Leaps, Kudumbasree, December 2001
Contributed by: Administrator
