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From sweet shop and migrant laborer to employing others at a Motorcycle workshop

Thu Nov 17 2022

From sweet shop and migrant laborer to employing others at a Motorcycle workshop
  • Name: Shambhu Sah
  • District: Siraha
  • Training Name: OJT in Professional Motorcycle Mechanics
  • Training Start Date: 2018
  • Training Duration: 10 months (1696 hrs. on-the job training)
  • Age: 35 years old

 

Shambhu Sah comes from a family of sweet shop owners. His father owns a sweet shop that has been running for the past 20 years. His brother holds a government job as a Junior Technical Assistant at Aurahi Rural Municipality. Except for the house where they live, they do not have any other property. Shambhu quit schooling after grade 10 since his father could not afford his higher education then. Therefore, after clearing secondary school, he began to help his father at the sweet shop. Shortly after that, Shambhu also went to Malaysia as a migrant laborer in 2005 and worked there for 13 years.

After Shambhu was back in the country, he began looking for job opportunities but to no avail. Fortunately, one day his friend Tikaram Mochi informed him about the Professional Motorcycle Service Mechanics Training under ENSSURE project. The training included 6 months of theoretical sessions and 3 months of on-site training on the subject. Shambhu was filled with hopes of better job opportunities when he saw that the training hold a prospect of receiving skill accreditation from a well-recognized and trusted institute. Hence, he promptly applied for the course and got selected.

 

Shambhu had no knowledge of motorcycle mechanics before the training. So Shambhu had to learn everything from the scratch. But, as per him, the training was quite comprehensive and gradually he got familiar with how motorcycles work. He eventually learned the skills of motorcycle maintenance and repair. By the end of the training, Shambhu was well-versed in general servicing, engine repair, and wiring. Not only that he also received short training in communication and business skills.

 

After the training was completed, he worked at Naresh Thakur Auto Workshop Lahan for a while to learn more about engine repair. The owner only provided him with tea and snacks but he stayed to be adept at repairing motorcycles. Six months later, when Shambhu was confident enough to run his own service, he took a loan of Rs. 5 lakhs from Dashara Cooperative Pvt. Ltd. at a 16% interest rate and has now started his own motorcycle workshop called Shubha Laxmi Motorcycle Workshop at Lahan. He has also employed one person as a helper and pays him a salary of NRs. 6000.00 per month.

 

Shambhu admits that it was difficult at the beginning. The daily income at the workshop was only Rs. 5-600 but nowadays they earn more than double the amount. He is optimistic that as so long as he delivers quality service, growth is bound to happen. He plans to extend this workshop in the future and get authorized certification from motorcycle brands and also provide jobs to new learners.