Kudumbashree - Success Story of Sree Muruga Cement Brick Making Unit

Making Building Blocks and earning livelihood: Success Story of Sree Muruga Cement Brick Making Unit

Vaikom is a town located in the northwest region of the Kottayam district of Kerala. The town rose to national fame during the Indian Independence movement. Vaikom has lots of backwaters and greenery and has a high potential for tourism. A famous Shiva Temple in the area, Vaikom Mahadevar Temple also known as Dakshina Kasi, is a major pilgrim destination. In Udayanapuram Grama Panchayath of Vaikom Taluk there was a Cement Brick Manufacturing unit called Sree Muruga Cement Brick Unit owned by a private party. Smt. Prasanna Kumari, also a member of Kudumbashree was a worker there from 2004 onwards.

After 9 years, the private party decided to stop the unit because of some financial crisis. At this time, she planned with other Kudumbashree members and her husband and family members for making a Micro Enterprise Unit and take over the charge of this unit. An agreement with the former unit owner was established on the condition that the unit will be allowed to take up with a daily rent of Rs.500 to use the machinery and facilities of the unit. In 2013, four other members of the Kudumbashree along with Smt. Prasanna Kumari formed a Micro Enterprise Unit and collected Rs.125000 as Rs.25000 from each member of the unit.
Handling large machines for making cement bricks was very difficult and they need outside support. Prasanna kumari's husband Sri. Surendran and the other two were involved in handling the machine with daily wages. The main production of this unit is the manufacture of different sized cement bricks, which are of 12 x 8 x 4, 12 x 8 x 6, 12 x 6 x 4, 12 x 6 x 5 sizes. Metal Chips, M-Sand, cement and water are the raw material for making cement brick. The shape of bricks is formed by pressing them in a machine after mixing in a specific ratio. They can construct around 1500 Bricks per day. The bricks produced will take 15 days to dry well. Quality bricks will get only if the water is drenched well from the second day after making. After 15 days, bricks are ready to be sold.  

They were taken a loan of Rs 4 lakh and a subsidy of Rs 2 lakh was obtained. Now, in 2018, they have taken a loan of Rs. 2 lakh without subsidy. These women who has put significant effort into the business development and is exceptionally good at what they do. The unit has been able to sell bricks at cheaper prices than other companies because of their construction style and hard work without compromising the quality. The cement brick is being sold very quickly, and the wages of the workers, the dividend, the loan, the rent and other expenses are going on smoothly. After witnessing this initiative, they testify that the individual's personal lives and family life had changed. The biggest gain since this unit began to talk to others with confidence, interact with social issues, and have the confidence to face any challenges. The cost of this unit is about Rs. 22,000 worth M Sand, Rs. 22,000 worth chips, Rs.6745 worth cement, Rs. 5,000 for daily wages and Rs. 56,500 including other expenses. The monthly turnover of this unit is about six to seven lakh rupees.
During the floods of 2018, this unit also suffered heavy damages. Their shed was severely damaged and the total of 1300 bricks that are completely destroyed, motor is damaged and estimated to be around Rs 75,000. Apart from Prasannakumari, Shobhana, Ramani, Ragini and Aswathy are the other members of the unit.

Construction style, hard work and joint commitment without compromising on quality. The brick price is lower when compared to other companies is the reasons for their success. Finding capital, find a low rental place for brick making, revitalize the construction unit that has been cancelled due to financial difficulties, Get the goods needed for construction, and earn money for the sold brick.

One gave free space for brick making, vast experience in this field was their turning point in the business. To make the unit a more productive manufacturing unit in own space and machineries is their future plan. A total of six families are living happily in the society because of this unit. That realization itself makes us feel happy and proud.This is the most happiest moment they had experienced. With their sheer confidence in herself that Smt. Prasanna Kumari could become the entrepreneur of an enterprise where once she worked at. Her family and team members became her sole support and all it happened because of her will power and determination.