THANGAMANI- THE COTTAGE INDUSTRY GIRL

THANGAMANI- THE COTTAGE INDUSTRY GIRL

When my doorbell ranged – I saw Thangamani standing. Uncle do you want Idly, Dosa for breakfast? Time is morning 7.00; Uncle- I am having all types of pickles; in the evening-Phenols, Agarbathi, washing soap and so on. I used to admire such type of people. Life to them is a walking industry)

For the last 5-years I am seeing this young lady catering to the needs of bachelors, office going people and some time relieving the house wives from the boredom of daily routine cooking jobs with breakfast, noon meals or night tiffin. Thangamani is the 6th daughter for her parents-who- now no more- were very poor. At the age of 20 she was married to a person-whom she found a drunkard and spent-thrift. He was working as assistant to a Cook-Contractor.

Unable to cope up with this person, Thangamani left him to stand on her own legs.
She took a one-room tenement in a cluster of houses and began her life helping neighboring housewives by assisting them in kitchen or washing cloths etc Life used to be very hard for her. One day she met a new comer in that area. Like other people Thangamani started to help her also. She was the President of Lady’s wing of Lions Club. Seeing the plight of this lady she came forward to help her by suggesting this type of cottage industry.

She also arranged venture capital from Lions Club. At the beginning there was Luke warm response. Undaunted she worked her way.Experience taught her to prepare the food products according to the taste of Customers. For instance for Idly- she started to offer Chutney, Chilly Powder, Onion Sambar, Chilly paste, Onion paste etc. Business started to pick up- from mere 10-idly sales to soon 50-80 idylls.
Life started to look bright to this girl. She got the requisite encouragement.

She was prompt in repaying the loan. Hence the Lions Club was prepared to help her further. Though she studied upto 10th standard, her hard physical effort prompted her to explore other areas connected with her present business. Some housewives suggested to her to prepare-Vadam –made out of rice paste. In South India this type of side item is very popular especially in marriage parties, as side dish to patients recuperating from illness. To make it requires hard physical work.

Preparing the paste itself is highly technical. Next small small quantity of the paste should be made into a round thin layer on a plantain leaf and baked.The baked- Vadam- as it is called is to be removed from the leaf and Sun-dried. It is then packed- 50 or 100 in numbers.In marriage parties it will be fried in oil and served. For Patients who are recuperating this will be roasted sans oil and served.

Initially Thangamani found the process very tough. Many people returned the item
rejecting it as not according to their taste. But slowly she learnt the art of preparing the paste. In course of time her clients appreciated this item and now it is her regular business. Not stopping with the above items she started other items which are of daily requirements to housewives like: Dal Powders: like red-gram; coriander; curry-leaf etc Pickles: Mango, Lime, Onion etc. For People like Thangamani there is always hope to live with respects through this type of cottage industry.


Analysis:

For persons like Thangamani- the asset is her physical energy. If you are prepared to use it there are various sources opened to her -–This type of cottage industry belongs to consumable items and there are always demands for these items. If quality is maintained with consistent competitive price you are on the move.


· Solid Physical effort.
· Support of housewives.
· Lions Club helps.
· Eagerness to learn.

R.Jagannathan.