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Lata Phale belongs to village Nandgaon in the Pune district of Maharashtra. She is 35 years old and has 2 children. Her husband is a farmer and Lata also helps the family by working on the farm. However, it is difficult for her family to survive on agricultural income as it is very low.
Lata knew a little sewing and stitching before she was selected for the USHA Silai School program. For last one year Lata has been running the USHA Silai School from her home in the village. On account of the good quality of sewing and stitching Lata got selected as a Master Trainer and is earning through teaching girls and women sewing and stitching, doing job work and also conducting training during the silai school initiative. She is able to earn Rs. 200/- per day and aspire to augment her income through the USHA Silai School.
Her story in her own words: I am Lata Namdeo Phale. I am 32 years old. I live with my son, daughter, mother in-law and husband. We sow our own seeds in the field. But if the previous crop is ruined, we are forced to buy seeds from the market, which creates financial difficulties. Farming does not bring much income, which is why I started tailoring and stitching blouses. Then I was selected for the Usha Silai Programme and was trained for seven days. I came back and started training village girls. I began to earn. I have started saving money in two accounts, one in my name and one in my daughter’s name. I save Rs. 200 every month for my kids and I. I also save Rs. 300 every month in a post office account, for my kids.
My savings are Rs. 500 per month. When I started working, I had only one machine. With my savings, I have bought another, to hem and line saris. I earn Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per sari. I have taught 15 girls so far. I wish to teach many more. I am totally dedicated to expanding my work. If I train five girls at a time, I earn Rs. 2,000. I am a confident person now. I used to sit at home. I never had to interact with too many people. Now I go out and hold conversations, and this is because of the Usha Silai Programme. I am not afraid anymore.
Do you want to be a part of the huge change that Usha Silai School is bringing about in the lives of millions of rural women? With just a simple click of a button, you can now contribute towards the opening of an Usha Silai School or support various other aspects of the school.
Kushalta Ke Kadam, an initiative by USHA Silai School and NDTV has entered its eighth season. The aim is to empower more women across rural India by teaching them sewing skills and helping them open new doors of opportunities for themselves. The initiative encourages rural women to become financially independent and entrepreneurs by taking up sewing and training others in their respective communities.
Since 2011, the USHA Silai School initiative has trained more than 12 lakh rural women through over 33,000 Silai schools, spanning over 20,751 villages across India.
The women earn Rs. 4,000 – 5,000 per month on an average, with the highest recorded monthly earning being Rs. 84,000 in a month. This earning works as a catalyst towards building their self-confidence, reducing gender inequities, and raising their stature within their families and in society at large.
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Rohit Bal
Sayantan Sarkar
Shaila Khubchandani
Sreejith Jeevan
Swati Vijaivargie
Rohit Bal
Sayantan Sarkar
Shaila Khubchandani
Sreejith Jeevan
Swati Vijaivargie