 |
| Rajkumar.S, Sree Sakthi Paper Mills, Edayar, Ernakulam |
Though he was employed in a private firm, Rajkumar had wanted to start something on his own. And as he discussed the matter with his father who had just then retired from Government service, his father readily gave him his pension benefits of Rs.2 lakhs and blessed his venture. What he started with that small investment has now grown into a Rs.200 crore-turnover business with assets worth Rs.50 crores.
His first effort was to start a corrugated box plant at South Kalamassery. With a loan of Rs.5 lakhs from KFC and another Rs.3 lakhs from another source, he plunged into the Rs.10 lakhs venture with guidance from A.S.Unni, the then Director of KSIDC. It was the time when television was becoming popular and export of textile items was picking up. These factors contributed to increased demand for packing materials and helped the nascent company.
By 1986 its second plant had been set up at Palakkad. By 1988 the 3rd plant at Thirunelveli and by 1990 the next plant at Chennai had been set up and the proprietary firm was on a growth trajectory.
It was in 1992 that he started the Sree Sakthi Paper Mills at Edayar Industrial Area with a capital outlay of Rs.2 crores. Commissioning of the duplex board plant at Kanjirappally in 1995 resulted in the augmentation of production and subsequent expansions saw the company reach the present production capacity of 40000 tons per year.
What started with 25 employees has now grown into 1500-employee organization. “From the beginning, ours has been a profit-making venture. Not even a single day of production has been lost due to strikes or any other reason,” he says.
A transport company, a construction company, export-and-import divisions etc also function under Kailas Group. And fittingly, the original financier, his father Sivathanu Pillai, is the Chairman of the Group.
Courtesy:
R.N (text),
Mathrubhumi , November 28, 2005
Contributed by: Administrator
