Taking charge of their destiny

by
International Labour Organization (ILO)
on
January 3, 2023

A turbulent past

It is 4 AM on a Saturday in Pandaravanni, a village in the Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. A solitary source of light faintly illuminates a grove of Palmyrah trees. The light is from a house.For one of its occupants, Amirthalingam Ranjana, the day has begun.  

Early starts, long days, and overcoming challenges are characteristic of 30-year old Ranjana, driven by the ambition to give her young daughter a better life.  “As a youngster living through the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war, my life was constantly disrupted. I couldn’t complete my Advanced Level Examination  and I was given in marriage right after the war. It was more about security than anything else. But my marriage ended prematurely. With no permanent home, parents who were old, a 6 year old child, and no income, all the responsibilities fell on me.”

Recovering from the aftermath of the war has proven to be particularly challenging for female-headed households in the former conflict areas. Many women sought temporary relief through high-interest loans, knowing little that these loans would become nearly impossible to settle without gainful employment.  

The catalyst  

The floor at Queens Products is on bustling and Ranjana is busy in her role as supervisor. Founded by local entrepreneur Panjalingam Subhaskaran, the small business manufactures food products such as rice flour, curry powder, millet flour, and odiyal flour.

“When I joined Queens, I found myself surrounded by a group of kindred spirits who understood the kind of adversities I face. Starting as aware house keeper, I did my job to my best ability. Seeing my efforts, the company promoted me and gave me a motorcycle which made travelling to work easier, and safer,” says Ranjana,

adding that the gradual improvement has improved life for her family. The interest free-loans given by the company and steady income also meant that she and other single-mothers at Queens could settle their debts. 

“My aim is to create a business that gives employment opportunities to people who have been marginalised by society. They too can work as hard as anyone else, and they have a point to prove to the society that rejected them,” Subhaskaran says.

A few hours away from Queens Products, in the neighbouring district of Killinochchi is another enterprise that not only has a similar product line as Queens but also embodies the same philosophy

Dr. Gajendra, board members of Sivanarul Enterprises explains their purpose, “We have been in operation for almost 2 decades. A majority of our 120 strong workforce is women heads of households and persons with disabilities. Many of them joined as production workers but are sectional heads and supervisors today”.

Dancing to your own beat 

Ratnasingham Tharshini has been with Sivanarul since its inception. Having lost a leg due to an injury during the war, she recalls spending the early years post-injury in a slump.

“After several years one internal displacement after another, we were finally building a house. It was a new beginning in a sense, but and I just stayed inside the house, crying all the time. Even when I had recovered mentally, finding a job was so difficult. Many would site my disability as a reason for rejection. I was heartbroken, it was at this point that Sivanarul began their recruitment drive.”

At the factory, Tharshini is known for her enthusiasm, willingness to take on any task, and passion for dance.

“I used to love to dance in school but stopped after the injury.  I danced again for the first time a Sivanarul function, I haven’t stopped since. They encourage and even give the day-off to compete in dance and sporting events. I have already won several national-level dancing competitions. Even if one person with a disability changes their way of thinking because of me, I’d be happy,” says Tharshini.  

Inclusive employment and decent work for vulnerable communities, especially women and persons with disabilities has proven essential for rebuilding lives and livelihoods in the Northern Province. Supported by the AustralianDepartment of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) together with the Government of Norway,ILO’s LEED+ project continues to support Micro and Small Enterprises likeQueens and Sivanarul transform their organisations and grow as inclusive workspaces. LEED+ is assisting companies to implement strategies to proactively integrate marginalized individuals into their operations.

With the support of her employer, Ranjana has already taken steps to start her own venture - Vanni Palmyrah Company, and employs 10 female heads of household.

Speaking about her journey, Ranjana says, “I never lived my life based on fear or shame others directed at me. There were people who used to malign me for separating from my marriage, but now those same people are calling me and asking for jobs. Do not be afraid. Do not take heed of what others have to say about you. Believe in yourself and move forward.”