Kerala: This entrepreneur was once a homemaker

Kasargod: P.K. Umavathi  was a homemaker confined to the  world of her family and its mundane affairs till 2009.  After seven years, she has over  60 employees working under her firm ‘Uma garments’ with a turnover of Rs 20 lakh per month. Moreover,  Uma,  34,  bagged the state government’s award for the best woman entrepreneur in 2013-14.

When the  idea to  start a sewing unit struck her, she learnt  about the PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme) in 2009 and  launched her garment unit with an initial investment of Rs 1,80,000.  The women’s night dress and skirt brought out by her soon hit the  markets  from Kannur to North Mangalore. “As of now, 1500 pieces are produced daily.  The unit employs 32 women  and another 30 sew dress in their homes. Except a few, all the employees are women,” says a beaming Umavathi.

The garment factory has now shifted to its own four-storey building at  Vidyaagar here from a crammed industrial unit. “Impressed by our steady growth, the district industry centre recently sanctioned her Rs 35 lakh.  The land was bought and building constructed using that fund,” she explained.  Her immediate aim is to increase the production capacity to 2000 pieces a day. Mother of two school-going children, Umavathi asserts that women could excel in any field if they have a  passion for it and get the family  backing.  Sumithran is her husband.