“The traditional textile community questioned my skills as a woman, but I persevered in the face of their doubts,” entrepreneur Gaja Sravya tells SheThePeople in an interview. Today, Gaja hopes to further grow her textile business NaSra Fashion and give more women in her community a job and empowerment.
Gaja Sravya: Excerpt from the interview
What did you pursue prior to entering the textile industry?
I did B.Tech and MBA but did not want a regular job; instead, I chose to connect with my interest in starting a textile business. Initially, I took training from WE HUB and started my small boutique. Eventually, with WE HUB’s support, I was able to avail of government schemes like The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) to gradually scale up my business.
What made you choose the textile business?
I chose the textile business as it required relatively low capital to start and it was convenient for women to operate from home. I faced scepticism, but my strategy was to start small and gradually build credibility. I focused on school and college uniforms, which helped me establish my business. Gradually, with the support from the local government, I enabled my growth further.
What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
I faced challenges from the traditional textile community who doubted my abilities. There was scepticism from people just because I am a female running a textile business. But I focused on working and building credibility. My family, especially my husband and mother, provided a lot of support and encouragement. They helped me by taking care of household responsibilities and providing financial and moral support in my entrepreneurial journey.
How did your achievement shape your perspective?
My biggest achievements are getting orders from prestigious engineering colleges and getting free workspace support from the local government. The support from the local bodies helped me a lot in establishing my business. Moreover, I also received offers from big security agents to work with them, but I denied the offer because I was not only doing business but also running a social cause.
What would you like to tell the women in your community?
If women think that they have to achieve something, and if they have the inner desire or inertia, they can do anything. Women inherently carry good dedication as compared to others, and I feel if women believe in something, they put 100% dedication into it. All they need is a little push or a support system that will make them kickstart their endeavour. Women should come out of their homes and traditional roles that bind them, and once they step out, they can stand high on their own two feet.
What is your major takeaway from your journey looking back?
I used to wonder how people can build their successful ventures from scratch, but now when I look back and revisit my whole journey, starting with just a machine that cost me 6k, to building this business worth 15 lakhs today, I am amazed about how I did this, but all I can say now is, I did it.
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