Elavarasi P. Jayakanth

Elavarasi P Jayakanth is an Indian woman entrepreneur based in Thrissur, Kerala.

Early life

Elavarasi P Jayakanth was born in 1978 in Usilampatti Madurai, Tamil Nadu as the seventh child of street vendors Periyakaruppa Thevar & Pappathy, her family later moved to Thrissur, Kerala.

From a young age, she had many responsibilities and worked even while going to school. She had to stop her studies after fifth grade to help at home. With the support of a neighbour, she joined school again. She failed her Secondary School Leaving Certificate exam the first time, but passed on the second attempt. She joined college, but after her father’s death, she could not continue.

Career

After her marriage, she started making chips and murukku at home and supplying them to small shops nearby. By 2009 she opened a small shop of her own, where she was also able to give jobs to others. In 2011, a robbery took away most of her goods and even her delivery vehicle, leaving her with a great loss. The event caused severe emotional and physical trauma, leading to hospitalization. Even after this setback, she did not give up. Her journey has been one of hard work, resilience, and quiet strength. Selling parippuvadas, bajjis and hot chips she gradually regained financial stability.

Awards and honours

Elavarasi was awarded the International Peace Council UAE Award for "Best Entrepreneur" in 2019. United Human Care International's Abraham Lincoln Excellence Award for excellence in entrepreneurship in 2020