Since ages, women in India are expected to live a confined domestic life and they have been struggling hard to get rid of these retrograding restrictions. From trying to break free from the shackles of social discrimination, cultural bias, tags of being an inferior sex to fulfilling their responsibility of maintaining a home and a family, Indian women are now finally acknowledged, appreciated and admired for their new roles of ‘entrepreneurs’. Here is the inspiring story of Kusum Sharma, a woman entrepreneur of Dhamtari, who has braved all odds and has been successful in carving a niche for herself in brick industry. Kusum, aged 43, has been profitably running her enterprise named ‘Partha Bricks Industry’ at village Lohaarsi in District Dhamtari. Four years ago, in a tragedy, cancer took the life of her loving and caring husband, who had been managing the brick industry.

 

After the demise of her husband, she was in doldrums and mentally dejected. Kusum, who is a mother of two children, was in a crossroad of life. As she was a homemaker that time, she had no knowledge whatsoever about the art of running an enterprise. After lots of introspection and contemplation, she infused ‘never say die’ spirit in her. “I wanted to prove to the society that a woman can be successful without the support of a male member”, said this exemplary woman entrepreneur. Kusum pulled up her socks and quickly learnt the details of brick industry. This extremely talented lady, who has done post-graduation in Political Science and Sociology from Pandit Ravishankar University, is now an entity to be reckoned with in the field of brick manufacturing across Dhamtari district. As a matter of fact, she has made manifold progress and has significantly increased the production of bricks in her brick kilns, which is sprawling in the area of 2.5 acres. “I am manufacturing 15-20 lakhs bricks in a year, with an annual turn over of Rs 40 lakhs rupees. Since there is a restriction by the govt on making of clay bricks, I am now fully concentrating on the production of fly-ash bricks.

 

There is abundant supply of fly ash from nearby thermal power plants. I have been selling bricks at neighboring villages and Dhamtari town”, said Kusum enthusiastically. She had been facing tough challenges from male dominated brick manufacturers of Dhamtari. She said, “I am one of the very few women brick-kiln owners of Dhamtari. Of course, I am confronting numerous challenges from my male counterparts. But, no one can dent my confidence”. To further expand her business firm, she has taken loan from Vijiya Bank. Moreover, she has given employment to numerous villagers in her brick-kilns. “Kusum madam is very humble-natured and is nicely managing the labourers”, said Ritu Sahu, who is one of the women laborers of Partha Brick Industry. Monika Netam, Sarpanch of village Lohaarsi, lauded the efforts of Kusum Sharma.

 

She said, “Entrepreneur like Kusum ji is the best example of women empowerment. She is truly a torchbearerin the field of rural entrepreneurship. Women of our area are trying to emulate Kusum ji”. Making demand from Government, Kusum said, “There should be more provisions in State Industrial policy for the brick manufacturing units. More subsidies should be given”. She advised the budding women entrepreneurs of Chhattisgarh, “Have self-belief, then you can also do wonders in any field of life”.