These Women Show How Past Cannot Stall Their Future

26-year old Fareeda Begum's husband deserted her and her daughter allegedly for another woman, rendering her destitute. She was forced to migrate to Bengaluru from her village in Anantapur in Andhra Pardesh, in search of work.

After working at a garment factory for some time, she was forced to return to her village due to the sudden demise of her father. Now the responsibility on Fareeda doubled. Not only was she required to feed her daughter but now the responsibility of supporting her mother also fell on her shoulders.

Given her prior experience of working at the garment factory, she joined the Usha Silai School Programme to learn stitching and after completing her course she opened her own Silai School to teach others how to stitch. As the number of students enrolling in her silai school went up, so did Fatima's earning.

This turn in fortune meant that Fatima could fulfill her responsibilities towards her daughter and mother. She has invested her earnings for educating her daughter. She has overcome the dark years of her life and is now leading a life that is self-sufficient and dignified.

Meerut based Sultana's young life took a tragic turn when her husband died suddenly. She was 22 years old back then and mother of two children. Her in-laws disowned her and her children. Overnight Sultana was a widow and the sole bread earner for her children. There were days when she couldn't afford even one meal for her children. It was then that Sultana came across the Usha Silai School programme. She soon joined the training so that she could financially support her family.

After Sultana opened her own Silai School, members of her community and even her family members opposed this move. But she managed to turn all the opposition in her favour, with her skillful work and her infectious enthusiasm. Today, on an average she is able to earn Rs. 5000 per month and has trained 33 students so far. Sultana's hard work and her attitude to never give up has seen her through tough times. Now with her savings she plans to marry off her elder daughter.

The circumstances for someone like Sarojini Devi were never favourable. A widow from Bihar with two children to support, neither were there too many opportunities nor was she qualified enough to earn a living. After her husband's death, she tried her hand at stitching to make ends meet. But her poor sewing skills saw her make very little headway.

Around this time she got to know about the Usha Silai School programme and decided to enroll to improve her sewing and stitching skills.

After she completed her training at the Silai school, Sarojini started her own school to train others. Apart from establishing her own school, she slowly started getting orders for tailoring work. With her little venture growing day by day, the number of students started to steadily increase.

Sarojini has now trained more than 100 students and earns more than Rs. 8000 per month from her School. With her increased earning she has purchased an additional sewing machine to cope with her increased workload.

Gundamma, who hails from Koradampalli village in Karnataka, moved out of her in-laws house along with her daughter as she was subjected to unbearable torture on a daily basis. After she moved back to her parent's house, she decided to work and make a living as she didn't want to be dependent on her parents.

With the help of a local NGO, she came across the Usha Silai School Programme and underwent the 7-day training in stitching. Post her training, Gundamma opened her own Silai school to train other women of her village in sewing.

With her hard work, determination and passion for stitching, Gundamma has imparted her stitching skills to 70 students so far. A steady source of income has meant, ability to expand her operations. Gundamma has purchased three additional sewing machines. She has also invested money in her daughter's education, who now studies in a local residential school. Gundamma says, "All this has become possible because of Usha Silai School."