USHA Silai Heroes Go Beyond Training Centres And Become The Change Makers

Gudiya Devi, a member of Gond tribe of Munga Dih village of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) became the Head of her Gram (village) Panchayat after becoming an USHA Silai teacher and is now influencing village development through her office.

Ms Devi, who started a Silai school in her village in October 2020, faced economic challenges since childhood. She as married off to a small farmer Hari at a young age. Ms Devi soon found out that her husband was cheating on her with another woman after which she was regularly subjected to domestic violence. As the incidences of violence against her increased, she left her in-laws' house and returned to her parents' house. Soon, after that, through an NGO, Banwashi Sewa Ashram, Ms Devi got to know that USHA with the support of SIDBI Bank established Swavalamban Silai Schools in Sonbhadhra district.

She participated in a nine-day residential training at the school established in her village in October 2020 where she learnt about fashion, sewing machine installation, repair and maintenance and also got 2 days of Life Skill training. Along with the training lessons, she also received one Sewing Machine, one signage board, one syllabus book, one service manual, and a teacher's certificate. This was a step towards a new beginning for her. She opened her own Silai school and started training other women.

Ms Devi, who now owns two sewing machines, is currently teaching seven learners. She charges Rs. 200 per month as the fee from each learner and Rs.50 as an admission fee. She is now earning over Rs.5,000 per month from her school and her stitching work.

Because of the encouragement and training received at the USHA Silai School, Ms Devi now has her own identity as gram pradhan, trainer, motivator, and counsellor. As Gram Panchayat head, Ms Devi has assured the people of her area that she will fight till the end to bring facilities for higher education, and facilities for water and health to the village.

In the other corner of India, Paulina Tuti from Chirkubera village, in Jharkhand had to struggle to make a life of her own in the area worst affected by Naxalism.

Ms Tuti remembers her childhood as a difficult time as she saw the struggles of her father to feed all the five children. In spite of all the difficulties, she studied up to intermediate. Ms Tuti got married in the year 2006 at the age of 20 to Joseph Purty, a farmer and a teacher in Chirkubeda village Bandgaon block, West Singhbhum. She is a mother to two children- a boy and a girl.

It was the training received at USHA Silai School and the sewing machine that the Silai School provided her, that made all the difference in Ms Tuti's life. According to her, the biggest difference is the level of independence that the training has brought into her life, especially when it comes to household expenses.

Overcoming her own struggles, Ms Tuti has now become a voice of change, contributing towards the betterment of her community by mobilising people for forest and land rights and preservation of the environment.