MANTU AND SANTU CONSTRUCTION PRIVATE LIMITED

Mantu and Santu started this construction business together, and we operate out of Vill-Kathghara in the Salkhua block of Saharsa. We are based at the house of Abacth Poddar. We don’t have any interest in being a huge company with offices everywhere. We just like to work in our own district where we know everybody. Our days are pretty much the same: we wake up early, head out to whatever site we are working on, and stay there until the sun goes down. We do everything from pouring concrete to laying the bricks. It’s physical work and it’s very tiring, but there is something good about seeing a building take shape because of your own sweat. We don’t have a secretary or any fancy marketing. If you need a job done, you just come find one of us. We use the knowledge we’ve picked up over the years and the tools we own. It isn’t always a smooth process—sometimes the weather stops us or we have to wait on supplies—but we always finish what we start. We aren’t outsiders trying to make a quick buck; we are just local guys from Saharsa who know how to build. We keep things simple and we don’t make a big fuss about anything. As long as the work is steady and the people are satisfied with their buildings, we are happy to keep going. It’s just how we run things in Kathghara.