SERP: CSE graduate finds livelihood in construction business through State support

Efforts by the State government to encourage women’s participation in non-conventional construction-related enterprises are beginning to show results, with a computer science engineering graduate from Wanaparthy district establishing centring units that earn nearly ₹ 1 lakh a month, and create local employment.

Peddhabudi Vanaja, a B.Tech (CSE) graduate of 2019 batch, hails from Bandapalli village in Panagal mandal. With support from the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), in collaboration with the National Academy of Construction (NAC), she has set up units.

“I always wanted to support my family by doing a white-collar job. Today, I am in a position to create employment for at least six others,” she said, acknowledging the support extended by the SERP.

Ms. Vanaja is among women across the State who underwent specialised training under SERP’s non-farm livelihood initiative, which focuses on non-conventional construction-related enterprises such as centring units, cement brick manufacturing, and shear wall construction.

SERP Chief Executive Officer Divya Devarajan said the initiative was designed to tap emerging opportunities in the construction sector. “Of the 772 women who received training in collaboration with the NAC, 154 have already established centring units,” she said.

Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) said, “With over 3.5 lakh houses proposed to be constructed under the Indiramma Housing Scheme during 2025-26, demand for construction materials was expected to rise significantly.”

Following the training, Vanaja secured a ₹ 20-lakh loan under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which helped her establish the enterprise.

Ms. Devarajan said that 16 more trained women have applied for support under the PMEGP. The SERP has prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and forwarded them to districts to facilitate bank linkages and financial assistance.

Each centring unit involves an investment of about ₹4 lakh, which forms the baseline support extended to trained members.