Odisha’s Suni Hembram has built a livelihood in a profession rarely associated with women. After her husband was injured and could no longer provide the support her family needed, she took on the challenge of running a roadside tyre repair shop herself.
With no formal mentor, specialised training programme or financial safety net, Suni learned the work through experience, determination and necessity. Her story reflects the difficult choices people sometimes face when supporting a family becomes their highest priority.
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From Family Crisis to a New Livelihood
When her husband was injured, Suni had to find a way to keep her household going. She took up tyre repair work, gradually teaching herself the skills required to handle heavy truck tyres and repair equipment.
The work was not an easy path into employment. It demanded physical strength, practical knowledge and the ability to work with machinery in a demanding roadside environment.
For Suni, learning the trade was not about proving a point. It was about earning enough to meet her family’s needs and keep her children in school.
Handling Heavy Tyres and Machinery
Suni’s daily work involves lifting truck tyres weighing approximately 40 to 60 kilograms and operating heavy equipment. These tasks require considerable physical effort, precision and experience.
Running the shop alone also means taking responsibility for the practical and financial demands of the business. Each repair represents another opportunity to earn a living and provide stability for her family.
Her experience highlights the physical demands faced by workers in the vehicle repair industry, where technical skills and hands-on experience are essential.
Challenging the Idea That Some Jobs Are Only for Men
When Suni entered the profession, she faced doubts from people who believed tyre repair was unsuitable for women. Comments such as “This isn’t a woman’s job” reflected the gender stereotypes that can restrict women’s access to certain occupations.
Over time, however, her ability to perform the work challenged those assumptions. The experience demonstrates how practical skills and consistent effort can change perceptions, even in fields where women remain underrepresented.
Suni’s story is not simply about succeeding in a male-dominated profession. It is also about the barriers women may encounter when trying to earn independently and support their families.
A Mother Working to Keep Her Children in School
Beyond the repair shop, Suni’s motivation is closely tied to her family. Her earnings help provide for household needs and support her children’s education.
Her journey illustrates the challenges faced by families with limited financial security, particularly when an injury or unexpected crisis affects their income. It also shows how women may take on physically demanding work when other options are limited.
Her determination deserves recognition, while the hardship that forced her into such circumstances is a reminder of the need for stronger support systems for families facing economic insecurity.
Suni Hembram’s journey from a family crisis to running a roadside truck tyre repair shop in Odisha is a story of resilience, skill and responsibility. Through demanding physical work, she has built a livelihood while challenging assumptions about what women can do.
Her experience shows that women can contribute to professions traditionally dominated by men. It also reminds us that no family should have to face hardship alone and that access to training, financial support and secure work can make a meaningful difference.
