Sikkim's Kunga Doma Bhutia driving change and empowering women in a job like car washing

In Gangtok, where small businesses hum quietly in the background of city life, one woman is making a difference; both for herself and for others. Kunga Doma Bhutia, a graduate and mother, runs a modest car wash shop, but her story is far bigger than the work itself. It is a story of determination and women’s empowerment.

Speaking exclusively to Sikkim Review, Kunga shared her struggles and hopes. “I had been carrying loads in vehicles for a long time. I am unemployed. Today, I sit with a degree, but I don’t have work. I need employment and I want my husband to have work too,” she said.

Kunga’s journey was never easy. She recalled times of tension and pressure in her work. “Even today, I came here, and if it involves women, seeing women, then today I… I kept doing my work. I am very tense. In minutes, we have to understand everything; we can’t calculate the customer,” she said. Despite the long hours and constant mental effort, she has learned to manage her business alone, keeping only minimal support.

For Kunga, running her car wash shop is not just a job. It is a way to show other women that independence is possible. “The ladies’ stage is moving now. We are under so much pressure, but I alone am moving. I want to show that women can do this too,” she said. Her efforts are quietly changing the perception of women’s work in her community, proving that empowerment starts with self-belief and action.

Kunga’s story shows that true empowerment is not always about grand gestures or public recognition. Sometimes, it is about small daily acts of courage; standing alone, working tirelessly, and showing others that women can lead, succeed, and inspire. In every car she washes, every customer she serves, Kunga Doma Bhutia is not just cleaning vehicles; she is driving change.