Beyond the Factory Gates: The Women Growing Alongside Sriperumbudur’s Transformation

For decades, Sriperumbudur was known for its villages, farmlands and quiet roads. As Tamil Nadu continues to emerge as India’s leading manufacturing hubs, Sriperumbudur is at the centre of this transformation, with thousands of people arriving every day to power the country’s industrial growth.

But beyond the factory gates, another transformation has quietly taken place.

It is a story told not through production numbers or exports, but through fruit shops, tailoring centres, family-run eateries and classrooms. It is the story of women who turned a changing local economy into lasting opportunities for their families—and, in many cases, for others in their communities.

A Cart That Became a Business

Every morning, Arul Selvi arranges fresh fruit outside the shop her family now owns.

Years ago, the business operated from a cart by the roadside. Income was uncertain and every day depended on passing customers.

As manufacturing expanded across Sriperumbudur, so did her customer base.

“The growth of industries in our area has contributed significantly to our business,” she says.

“Employees from Samsung Chennai plant and other factories visit our shop regularly, helping us build a steady customer base.”

Today, alongside her husband’s water-can supply business, the family earns enough to educate all three of their children—an aspiration that once seemed out of reach.

One Tailoring Shop. Three Businesses.

A few kilometres away, the rhythmic sound of sewing machines fills Veni’s tailoring centre.

When she started her shop 12 years ago, customers were few. As the region developed into a major manufacturing hub, demand steadily increased.

“Many employees from Samsung Chennai Plant regularly visit my shop, and women from nearby communities are among my regular customers,” she says.

What began as a small tailoring unit has grown into an Aari embroidery centre and a beauty parlour, creating employment for three women.

“I started this business with my mother’s support,” she says. “Today, it feels rewarding to see it creating opportunities for others too.”

Meals That Support Ten Families

For Daisy Rani, progress can be counted in the number of people working in her kitchen.

When she opened her small eatery nearly a decade ago, she employed just one person.

Today, ten people earn their livelihood there.

“Many workers from the plants nearby and people from the surrounding community visit us every day,” she says. “Their continued support has helped our business grow steadily.”

The Opportunity One Generation Missed

Industrial growth has transformed livelihoods, but it has also changed something even more fundamental—access to education.

When Gowri was growing up, the nearest school was too far away for her family to continue her education.

“I wanted to study further, but my parents were worried because the school was too far away,” she recalls. “I had to stop my education.”

Determined that her children would have different opportunities, she watched Sriperumbudur change around her.

Today, her son and daughter attend a good school just three kilometres from home.

“Factories coming here brought development. My children have opportunities I never had.”

Dreaming Bigger

That transformation in Tamil Nadu is perhaps best reflected in the aspirations of the next generation.

Kowsalya, a Class XII student, dreams of becoming financially independent while pursuing her passion for drawing.

“My parents often tell me how difficult education was when they were young,” she says. “Today, school is close to home, and I want to continue studying and build a career of my own.”

Her ambitions reflect the confidence of a generation growing up in a region transformed by opportunity.

Thirty Years of Growing with India

As Samsung celebrates 30 years in India, the company’s journey has been defined by long-term investments in manufacturing, innovation and people of Tamil Nadu.

For nearly two decades, Samsung’s manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur has been part of the region’s remarkable transformation. While the factory produces millions of products for consumers in India and around the world, its impact extends far beyond the production line.

The presence of a thriving manufacturing ecosystem in Chennai has helped local businesses grow, enabled women entrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods, strengthened household incomes and expanded opportunities for the next generation.

Like thousands of women across Chennai’s manufacturing belt, the stories of Arul Selvi, Veni, Daisy Rani, Gowri and Kowsalya reflect this broader transformation. They remind us that the true impact of manufacturing is measured not only in products built or technologies created, but also in lives changed, aspirations realised and communities strengthened.

As Samsung marks three decades of growing with India, these everyday stories stand as a powerful reminder that lasting progress extends well beyond the factory gates—and that some of the company’s most meaningful contributions are reflected in the people and communities growing alongside it.