Elakiya wants customers from entire Lalgudi for her Saree stone work

Elakiya, an enthusiastic woman entrepreneur, hails from a small village, Nerunjalakudi located in Trichy district, Tamil Nadu. And being a Milaap fellow, I got this pleasing opportunity to visit her on my field visit to Lalgudi block with Milaap’s partner GMF. When I reached in front of her house, she was putting stones on some Sarees sitting in her shaded veranda. As she looked at she welcomed me and I joined her right there for further words. She told that she lives with her husband and two children in that house. Her husband works as a private civil construction laborer. She has an elder daughter who studies in 2nd standard in a private school at Lalgudi town. Her younger son is 4 years old and studies in LKG.  

Wearing a proud smile, Elakiya told that before taking the loan her total monthly household income was Rs. 10,000 only which had been increased to Rs. 14,000. She had got married at the age of 20 years after two years of completing her matriculation. Lowering her voice she said, “I always had a desire to work, but my husband never allowed me to work from outside. When I heard about GMF, from a neighbor, as an organization that provides loan for initiating a business from home itself, I had instantly decided to avail one.” She told that she had chosen Saree stone work because she likes to design and decorate dresses with glittering stones of different shapes. She had received training of Saree stone work only, but now besides that she also decorates dresses (suits, chudidhar, frocks, etc.) with sparkles of various shades. 

Elakiya told that she buys the raw materials for her work once in a month worth Rs. 500-800 from Alivar Street, Trichy city. Apart from her own village she also gets customers from a neighboring village, Pallividai. Sliding a bundle of 6-7 Sarees, she said, “Approximately, I get 10-20 Sarees each month to work at.” The cost of each Saree varies depending on its area of putting the stones, complexity of design, and type of stones put. At an average, she makes a profit of around Rs. 3,000-4,000 a month. Sharing her experience of her work, she said, “I adore this work as this work has given me recognition in two villages. I easily devote 4-5 hours a day to my work without being tired.” 

Having the spark of firm determination in her eyes, Elakiya said, “With the income of my enterprise, I would like to continue sending both of my children in private school even in higher classes. To turn this into reality, I want customers from entire Lalgudi.” I could sense the hopefulness of a mother and resolution of a woman entrepreneur in her smile and eyes respectively that I would probably never forget.