Bangalore: With a constantly growing Indian market and rising needs of the Indian consumer, entrepreneurship seems to be the need of the hour. Everyday hundreds and thousands of young graduates from schools and colleges are moving towards starting their own enterprises. In this bustling crowd, one name that has recently risen as an inspiration for various young aspiring entrepreneurs is that of Leela Charan Dutta. The young man from Charigaon, a small village in Assam’s Jorhat region, has been doing some impressive work in the bee keeping industry.

At a yearly turnover of Rs70 Lakhs and a work force of twenty people, Dutta has achieved the status of the most successful honey producer and bee keeper in the north-eastern province of the country. After two years of rigorous struggle, Dutta started his business with a mere Rs10,000 and a set of 10 bee-hives about two decades back. He later registered his business under the CK Udyog that operates under the Small Scale Industry Department of Assam. Now Dutta runs his own processing unit that was initiated in 1994 with an investment of Rs3 Lakhs from the Assam Finance Corporation Bank.

In spite of a slow beginning, Dutta’s brand Assam Honey picked up to gain exponential success within a few years of initiation. The product is marketed all over the country along with Assam and other north eastern states. He currently produces over four tones of honey every year and plans on improving the production quality for international export. Till sometime back, Dutta’s company was the only bee-keeping firm in the north eastern region. He was awarded the Bharat Vikas Ratan Award in 2012 for his commendable effort in rural development.

"I am planning to set up my own laboratory and obtain the AG MARK. For that purpose, I have sent one of my consultants to Kolkata. If can get AG Mark, my business will definitely increase," Dutta said about the future prospects of the enterprise. He has been a source of inspiration for many youngsters in the villages of Assam and over 1200 young individuals are following his foot steps inspired to bring in change and development. "Earlier, my father worked here, and then, I also joined the organization. Our owner is very good I have been working here for three years. I am getting a good salary with which I can look after my family. I am happy working here," says Rajib Boruah, an employee with Dutta’s organization.