Al-Riffa (Bahrain): NRI industrialist Chellamshetty Hari Prasad, is that unusual individual who has scaled the ladder of success but has not forgotten how difficult it was and continues to help others to achieve their potential.
He comes from a middle-class family in Khammam district and completed his primary education in Singareni Boys’ School in Kothagudem. After passing out from JNTU in 1996, he left for Saudi Arabia, seeking a job with just 600 Saudi Dinars in his pocket. He began work as an engineer for an oil company and like many who seek a living in the Gulf countries struggled for two years to make good.
A decision he took in 1998 changed his life. He and four others established a construction and engineering unit that was to cost $10,000. Mr Hari Prasad invested $2,000 from his savings and assistance from his parents. He thus had 20 per cent of the share of SEPAM Construction Co-mpany, which later beca-me the SEPAM Group.
Today, SEPAM is a multi-billion dollar company, functioning from Ireland, Gulf Countries, Singapore and China. Mr Hari Prasad is one of the directors of SEPAM and works on its Middle East projects. He did not forget his humble origins and in the last 20 years has been helping others on behalf of the Telugu Kala Samiti. MP and president of the Telanga-na Jagruthi, K Kavita, impressed by the services he has rendered, appo-inted him president of the Telangana Jagruthi for Gulf Countries.
The industrial magnate has been concerned about the problems of labour; those going to work in the Gulf countries from India are often exploited and cheated by agents in India.
“During the renewals of work visa for workers I provided better jobs to them. Those who have no skills are being trained by our teams in Gulf countries and are earning at least Rs 1 lakh per month. We make them aware about the labour laws of the respective countries, and protect labour not only from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states, but also other states in India,” he said. The SEPAM group has 7,000-plus employees in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UK, US and China.
