USHA Silai School Empowers The Women Affected By The Lockdown During COVID-19 Crisis

With 23,265 USHA Silai Schools present in 12,858 villages across all states and Union Territories in the country, more than 6.7 lakh women have been able to enhance their skills. They have become empowered and financially independent. Here is how the initiative is helping those in need, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meet Sunita Devi Kumawat, 37-year-old Silai Hero, USHA Silai School. She and her husband Nathu Lal Kumavat used to work as daily wage labourers and shifted to Bagru a few years ago, a small town close to Jaipur, penniless in search of jobs. She took up stitching and got trained at USHA Silai School. In 2016, Sunita became an entrepreneur and also started training other women. Sewing machine paved way for a better future for Sunita and even opened doors to Lakme Fashion Week 2018 as she worked on a fashion label with 31 other USHA Silai School women.

Sewing machine paved way for a better future for Sunita and even opened doors to Lakme Fashion Week 2018 as she worked on a fashion label with 31 other USHA Silai School women.

Cut to 2020, when the pandemic hit India and a strict nationwide lockdown had to be imposed in order to contain the spread of the virus. Because of the lockdown, many people lost their livelihood. But for Sunita, the work didn't stop as she continued working and teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. During these unprecedented times, she took up stitching masks. With courage and determination, Sunita was able to earn about Rs. 1.3 lakh during the pandemic.

Women working and undergoing training at Sunita's SIlai School have been able to contribute to their family income while the country is facing an economic slowdown due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown.

Women are making masks following the standard prescribed by the government and medical experts. They properly clean and sanitise the fabric before and after stitching the mask.

Students help Sunita complete the order of masks given by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) that distribute masks as part of their community service. The masks made by Sunita and her students are also being sold commercially.

Students at Blind Relief Associaltion in Delhi have also been making masks at USHA Silai Schools and contributing towards the country's fight against COVID-19.

Ahmed, a student at Blind Relief Association could not go back home due to lockdown and restrictions imposed in the country. He stayed back and started working at the association's stitching unit. The association made more than 3,000 masks during the pandemic.

Adopt a Silai School

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.

About the Initiative

Kushalta Ke Kadam, an initiative by NDTV and USHA, aims at empowering women from rural India and encourages them to become entrepreneurs by taking up sewing and training others in their respective communities. Since 2011 Usha Silai Campaign has trained more than 3.95 lakh rural women within five years, with 17,000 Silai schools, spanning over 9272 Indian villages in India.

Kushalta Ke Kadam in Season 4 has returned with new goals and vision. The new season will witness the establishment of the new cluster in Kashmir, apart from the existing four clusters setup last year. The women from volatile Kashmir will work with well-known fashion designer Rohit Bal and get an unique opportunity to learn from him and make clothes for him. The work done by the Silai School women will be presented at Lakme Fashion week 2019.

Know More

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