Laxmi Sharma

Laxmi Sharma is a Nepali entrepreneur. She is credited as the first woman to drive an auto-rickshaw and went on to establish the first button factory in Nepal. Sharma was married at a young age, after getting a divorce she worked as a housemaid for sixteen years. Later, she started to drive a rickshaw. Though she was harassed for being a woman driver, she went on to open Laxmi Wood Craft Udhyog, a company that made buttons. The buttons were exported to Germany, Switzerland, Zambia, Denmark and the USA.

Personal life Sharma worked at the royal palace where she had to pick flowers during Puja, after that, she had to clean the room and spent time with the princess. At an early age she was not ready but she was forced to have a child. She also didn't want her children to grow in a disrespectful environment. Sharma later revealed that she was being insulted and harassed by her community for driving the tempo. It was the first button factory in Nepal. She hired four people to work in the factory. Her buttons were exported to Germany, Switzerland, Zambia, Denmark and the USA. The buttons are imported by major companies including Ralph Lauren and Zara.

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