Usha Silai Schools are more than just sewing schools-they are a lifeline for women to learn new skills, gain confidence, and take charge of their lives. These schools help women like Sakuben, Jyoti Rani, and Arzoo overcome challenges and become role models in their communities. By teaching them to earn and lead, Usha Silai Schools are giving these women a chance to break free from struggles and build a better future, not just for themselves but for those around them.
Arzoo (name changed) lost her husband to HIV, 15 years ago, who unknowingly passed the infection on to her as well. The Native Medicare Charitable Trust (NMCT) had put her on medication, and they were the ones who introduced her to the Usha Silai School programme. Today, she teaches women around her village, how to sew.
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.
USHA International and Rourkela Steel Plant empower rural Odisha women through sewing training, fostering financial independence, sustainable livelihoods and boosting local economies
USHA Silai School and NTPC's Jharkhand initiative builds skills and fosters financial freedom for woman like Jasinta Devi
USHA partners with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and Gram Utthan to empower women in Odisha through the USHA Silai School, transforming skills into livelihoods and fostering a brighter future
USHA Silai School empowers rural Odisha women through sewing skills & entrepreneurship. Transforming lives with training, income & community growth
In the remote region of Kargil, women like Mansura Bano are weaving threads of change and empowerment through the USHA Silai School program. By learning practical skills, these women are transforming their lives and communities
USHA Silai Schools empower women entrepreneurs like Nazima, who are transforming their communities. By providing skills, resources, and a vision for independence, these initiatives create a ripple effect of empowerment and economic growth for future generations