Kushalta Ke Kadam
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MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS: SEASON 7

Diparani Payung
Matilda Mary
Rita Devi
Tulsi Shah
Ledakijuh Nongtdu
Yurthingwon Ronra Shimray
Gulab Jahan
Rinku Mondal
Tinku Mondal
Binita Bhatt
Swarnlata Panda
Salma Bano
Suman Devi Kumawat
Varsha

MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS: SEASON 6

Gudia Devi
Bharti Kohade
Paulina Tuti
Gouri Das
Kalawati Sharma
Jayashree Janardhan Ghodvinde
Savita Thakur
Bishakha Mahanta
Mamta Bhargav
Hasuben Mohanbhai Rabari
Kusum Devi
Chandam Sunita Devi
Phemo Manham
Prabha Dhanga
Sandna Devi
Gouri Debnath
Leela Devi

Meet The Entrepreneurs: Season 5

Sushmita Saha
Jyotsna Sardar
Preeti Kushwaha
Sunita Devi Kumawat
Danishta
Ruby Devi
Jameela Bano
Bharti Kailsh Jadhav
Savita Charan Bhoir
Pnunchok Dolma
Zara Bano

Meet The Entrepreneurs: Season 4

Raziaben Mehboobbhai Pinjara
Santosh Kumavat
Sunita Devi Kumawat

Meet The Entrepreneurs: Season 3

Raziaben Mehboobbhai Pinjara
A. Metildamary
E. Iruthayamary
Rekhaben Solanki
Santosh Kumawat
Sunita Devi Kumawat
Ayesha Mondal
Laboni Baidya

Meet The Entrepreneurs: Season 2

  • Rubina Begum

    Rubina Begum

    Rubina Begum from Nithari Village, had been struggling to move on in life since 2006 gruesome serial killings came to light.She slowly regained her confidence after joining USHA Silai School and then became the first women in her family to earn a living.Read More

  • Soni

    Soni

    Soni lost her 10-year old sister in the 2006 Nithari serial murders. Life came to a standstill for Soni post the incident. It wasn’t until she got training in USHA Silai School in their village that normalcy returned to Soni's life and she found peace. Read More

  • Phuliya Bai

    Phuliya Bai

    Madhya Pradesh's Phuliya Bai had a limited source of income. Her life turned around when she joined USHA Silai School programme. She earns Rs 3000 monthly, has been able to finance her daughter's education and gained the respect of others in her village.Read More

  • Rekha Rahangdale

    Rekha Rahangdale

    Rekha family’s earning was insufficient to meet everyone’s need. After Rekha joined the USHA Silai School Programme, she started her own school and generated income. Today, Rekha’s husband and mother in-law are giving her all the support she needs to expand her business. Read More

  • Poonam

    Poonam

    Despite being a graduate she couldn’t find a job of her choice. But her in-laws did not let this become a hurdle for her, instead they guided her to a new track to achieve her goals. She opened her own silai school and is now training other women of her village to become independent. Read More

  • Lajjawati

    Lajjawati

    Despite completing her graduation, Lajjawati, was struggling to find a job. Making ends meet was proving to be the biggest hurdle. But she did not give up, and decided to do something of her own. She opened her own Silai School. Now, she's a teacher and trains other women. Read More

  • Rintu Gogoi

    Rintu Gogoi

    Rintu Gogoi is wife of an agricultural labor and mother of two boys. Her husband being the single earning member, they struggled to pay the school fees of their children. Then, she came forward and associated herself with Ushal Silai School to manage the household expenses. Read More

  • Mumtaz Begum

    Mumtaz Begum

    Mumtaz Begum's family of five was living a fairly content life until 2008, the year her husband passed away. As the years went by, the expenses became hard to manage. It was then that she got associated with Usha Silai School to bring in a regular source of income to support her family. Read More

  • Shivananda Kothurwad

    Shivananda Kothurwad

    Shivananda Nagnathrao Kothurwad is separated from her husband and lives with her 2 children. She belongs to Sultanpur village, Maharashtra. Presently she stays with her parents and pays for boarding and lodging. Before starting the Silai School, she gave tuitions to students and completed an embroidery course. Read More

  • Madhuri Karn

    Madhuri Karn

    Madhuri's husband was abusive, and an alcoholic. He started beating her up the very next day of their wedding. She was just 18 when she got married and was perpetually living in fear. She moved back to parents' home when she couldn't take it anymore. Now, she is 28, and a mother to a boy who goes to school. Read More

  • Naseema Bano

    Naseema Bano

    Naseema Bano lives in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Her father worked as a tractor mechanic and her mother would pitch in financially with switching jobs. Her parents tried their best to send her and her five sisters to school, but none of them could complete their schooling. Naseema managed to study till Class 10. Read More

  • Kalpana Kamadi

    Kalpana Kamadi

    Kalpana Kamadi, from Dhule District, Maharashtra, lost her son as she couldn’t afford the treatment. This incident jolted her into working towards financial stability for her family. She now runs her own Silai school and trains other women in her village. She is now respectful called 'madam' in her village. She recently bought her own car on installments.
    Read More

  • Nazira Ghazi

    Nazira Ghazi

    24-year-old Nazira Ghazi a resident of Durgapur, Kolkata was forced to marry after she completed her 10th grade. But she defied societal pressures, convinced her parents against early marriage and joined Usha Silai School. After years of hard work, Nazira financed her own education, and also supported her family. Read More

  • Chhotibai Sahebrao Chaure

    Chhotibai Sahebrao Chaure

    Chhotibai Sahebrao Chaure, 32-year old from Dali Samba village of Sakri block, Dhule district of Maharashtra has been running her own Silai School since 2014. Till date, Chhotibai has trained 28 women and now aims to increase the number of sewing machines in her class to give training to more women.
    Read More

  • Pratibha Pravin Khonde

    Pratibha Pravin Khonde

    Pratibha Pravin Khonde, from Sakri Tehsil in Maharashtra trained at the Silai School and started her own school within her house to not just earn money but also to enable other women to earn their own livelihood. Many of Pratibha's students are now teaching other women and becoming financially independent.
    Read More

  • Lata Phale

    Lata Phale

    35-year-old Lata, who lives, Pune, Maharashtra, has two children. Her husband is a farmer and Lata also helps the family by working on the farm. However, it is difficult for her family to survive on agricultural income only. Lata knew a little about sewing before she was selected for the USHA Silai School program. Read More

  • Gauri Jiwane

    Gauri Jiwane

    Gauri Jivane, 42-year-old, runs her Silai School in Shivangaon village, Nagpur, Maharashtra. Gauri is a widow, her son is doing MBA and daughter studies in a school. Despite her poor background, Gauri managed a graduation degree for herself and worked as a clerk in a Co-operative Bank before her marriage. Read More

Adopt a Silai School

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

About The Initiative

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.

 

Know More

Latest Stories

In Pics

Usha Silai School Programme Stitching Together Empowerment And Economic Growth Across India: IIT Delhi Study
Usha Silai School Programme Stitching Together Empowerment And Economic Growth Across India: IIT Delhi Study

Empowering women across diverse backgrounds, the Usha Silai School programme not only offers sewing and stitching skills but also fosters inclusivity and economic independence. A recent independent study by IIT Delhi highlights its profound impact, showcasing how this initiative not only transforms individual lives but also contributes significantly to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Take a look!

Skillful Collaboration: Usha Partners With Indian Armed Forces To Empower Women
Skillful Collaboration: Usha Partners With Indian Armed Forces To Empower Women

The Indian Armed Forces have always been at the forefront when it comes to safeguarding the nation's security. Members of the Armed forces have dedicated their lives to the service of the people in more ways than one. Along with protecting the nation, the Indian Armed Forces are building empowered communities across the country. Let's take a glimpse into the collaboration between Usha Silai Schools and various centers, aimed at supporting Army wives and family members with skill development and vocational training.

Usha Silai Schools Reviving India's Traditional Sports For A Healthy Community Legacy
Usha Silai Schools Reviving India's Traditional Sports For A Healthy Community Legacy

India's traditional sports like Adimurai, Mardani Khel, and Karra Samu and Kathi Samu, are now making a comeback, thanks to Usha. Here is how Usha is promoting a healthy and active lifestyle while strengthening the community's legacy tied to these sports, with the active participation of Usha Silai School women.

Usha Silai App Revolutionises The Art Of Sewing With Digital Learning
Usha Silai App Revolutionises The Art Of Sewing With Digital Learning

Women who may have limited access to traditional educational resources are now using smartphones to learn the art of sewing through Usha Silai Mobile App. The women are making the best use of platforms like Google Meet, Zoom and WhatsApp to discuss sewing content and community issues. Take a look!

From 'Gatka' To 'Turai Kar', Usha Champions Revival Of Traditional Sports Across India
From 'Gatka' To 'Turai Kar', Usha Champions Revival Of Traditional Sports Across India

From reintroducing ancient martial art forms like "Gatka" in Haryana to organising community games such as "Turai Kar" in Kashmir, USHA is not only promoting physical well-being but also reconnecting communities across India with their forgotten traditional sports. Take a look!

Usha's Partnerships With Government Bodies Help Unleash The Potential Of Rural Women
Usha's Partnerships With Government Bodies Help Unleash The Potential Of Rural Women

From North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) to Rourkela Steel Plant, the Usha Silai School Programme has collaborated with many government institutions and entities which has proven to be immensely significant in impacting the lives of rural women positively in many parts of India. Take a look.

Usha Sewing Centres Empowering Women In Remote Reaches Of India
Usha Sewing Centres Empowering Women In Remote Reaches Of India

From Shilpi Das to Mansoora Banoo, Usha Silai Schools are fostering financial independence among women, transforming them into self-reliant entrepreneurs. Take a look.

Meet The Super Achievers Of Usha Silai School, Fostering Financial Independence Among Women
Meet The Super Achievers Of Usha Silai School, Fostering Financial Independence Among Women

In the past 12 years, over 33,000 Silai Schools have been opened. Some of the Silai School women have shown unmatched resilience and will to transform their lives. They have come a long way in the Silai School journey and are now looked up to as role models by other girls and women in their communities. Let's meet some of them.

How Usha Silai School Programme Is Collaborating With Different Organisations To Upskill Women
How Usha Silai School Programme Is Collaborating With Different Organisations To Upskill Women

On one hand, Usha Silai School has collaborated with Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS) to provide women with employment opportunities while also promoting environmental conservation, on the other hand, it has partnered with the Blind People's Association in Ahmedabad to upskill women with disabilities.

Usha Silai Schools Empowering Tribal Women Through Traditional Art Forms Across India
Usha Silai Schools Empowering Tribal Women Through Traditional Art Forms Across India

Usha Silai Schools are providing comprehensive training to tribal women across India, home to several indigenous tribes, by fusing their traditional art forms with embroidery. Take a look.