Meet the Entrepreneur - Shivananda Kothurwad

Shivananda Nagnathrao Kothurwad is separated from her husband and lives with her two children who are studying in schools. She belongs to Sultanpur village of Maharashtra. Presently she is staying with her parents and pays for her boarding and lodging as her brother is not supportive. She left her husband’s house because of domestic violence, she filed a case against her husband for demand of dowry and physical torture. Before starting the USHA Silai School, she was giving tuitions to school children and also completed her embroidery course.

Through the USHA Silai School she has completed the training of 20 learners and is very good in innovative designing of cloths. Today she is earning Rs. 6000/- per month from USHA Silai School and she is able to spend money for the education of her children. She feels confidence to manage her own life and thinking the silai school program has given her an identity.

Her story in her own words: I am Shivananda Kothurwad. I am 29. I have two children. My daughter is 12 and my son is 10. I am the eldest child of my parents. They had found who they thought would be the best husband for me, a teacher. My wedding celebrations were possibly the best the people of this area have seen. My parents gave his family whatever they asked for. For a year or two, my marriage was fine. Then my husband took to drinking. He would hit me, accuse me of infidelity, and even starve me. He would lock my kids and I inside the house and leave for school. For five-six years I put up with it. Once he burned me. He also poisoned me. Couple of times he dropped me far from home and asked to me never return. I came back to my parents. And I filed a case against him.

My parents would give me whatever money I required for day-to-day living. Then, the Usha Silai Programme came to my help. It was as if the machine had lit up my dark life. I began to earn. Initially, I only stitched blouses. As I got better at tailoring, people asked me train their children. That’s how I started. Then more students came in, and more people got to know about my training school. I have already trained about 30-35 women.

Customers come with orders. And students come too. They come at about 11 am and leave by 2:30 pm. I also get orders for wedding dresses. Earlier I had no work or income. I would sit at home. I would ask my parents for everything I needed. But I have two brothers and two sisters. Their education costs a lot. Now, I don’t ask my parents for anything. I earn money and I can buy my children schoolbags, shoes and whatever else they require.