37-Year-Old Anita Bal Is Stitching A Story Of Self-Sufficiency With Usha Silai School

In the tapestry of effort, every thread woven with diligence and determination adds to the masterpiece of success. A famous poet once said, that those who work hard, never fail. The women of Churka Tola village have proven these lines to be true. They have single-handedly changed the fate and image of not just themselves, but several other women as well. We take you to a village where the strength of its women has set a new example for all of India.

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Churka Tola village is located 13 km away from Sultanpur block of Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. With a population of 3,600, this village is completely engaged in agriculture. Most of the families here depend on cattle rearing and labour to earn their living. It is in this village that 37-year-old Anita Bal created a history.

Anita is differently abled and so is her husband who runs a tyre repair shop to support his wife and three children. Initially, Anita would help her husband in his business but realised that she needed to start earning too as there were times when the family couldn't afford two meals a day.

It was then Anita got associated with the Usha Silai School. She underwent a training programme and went on to impart sewing skills to her husband. Anita and her husband now work together.

Anita Bal, Super Achiever Usha Silai School, Raisen in Madhya Pradesh said,

My husband used to fix punctures for a living. He didn't earn enough for us to get by. After my association with Usha Silai School, our family income improved. Then we invested some of that money in the education of our children. My husband now works with me and supports me.

Being differently abled, Anita was not confident about travelling for the Swavalamban Usha Silai School training. But, Anita was determined to improve her family‘s financial situation.

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It was Anita's passion for tailoring that caused a remarkable transformation in her life. In September 2021, she got an opportunity to participate in a nine-day residential program at the Usha SIDBI Swavalamban Sewing School. Once she had completed the course and acquired the necessary skills and expertise to establish her own Swavalamban Usha Silai School. By pursuing her dream of sewing, Anita not only improved her circumstances but also positively impacted the lives of numerous women.

Usha has changed our lives, says Anita.

During the nine-day training programme Anita learned not only different techniques of sewing and embroidery but also acquired technical expertise in machine operation. She proved to be an exceptional performer, and on the final day, she was awarded a sewing machine, a signboard, a syllabus book, a service manual, and a certificate.

Having established her own Swavalamban Silai School, Anita currently imparts tailoring skills to a group of two to four women, charging each student Rs 200. She has already trained 15-20 women and helped them become self-sufficient.

They have also expressed a desire to start the kind of work that I do.

Anita's achievements at the Swavalamban Silai School have gone well beyond her success. It has become a transformative experience that not only enhanced her skills but also had a lasting impact on her disabled husband.

Lakhanlal, Anita's husband said,

Usha has brought change in our village and it has changed our lives. And this will only work to bring change to the neighbouring villages too.

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Praising Anita for her notable dedication, Alok Tripathi, Program Coordinator, Madhya Pradesh, Usha International Limited, said,

Today she is getting orders not only from her village, but also from four to five neighboring villages because she has learned the art of tailoring so well and has also understood its importance. There are many other women here who want to pursue tailoring as a career, and to earn a living. We can see a huge change here.

Anita expresses deep gratitude to Usha and SIDBI for offering her the platform and opportunity to become a teacher at the Swavalamban Silai School. She acknowledges Usha's role in establishing her identity as a Usha silai school teacher, and nurturing her as a professional entrepreneur.

Anita's Swavalamban Silai School has changed many lives and become a remarkable source of inspiration. Filled with enthusiasm for the school's future, she is now confident of supporting her children's education. As a new batch starts at Anita's silai school, her unwavering commitment is being acknowledged, resulting in a surge of interest in the program. Filled with hope about expansion, she eagerly anticipates the enrollment of additional students next month, as she looks to foster a community built on self-sufficiency.

Mr Tripathi added,

The desire to take this program forward, to understand the skill involved, to understand its importance and then to make oneself succeed. These are the aspects that complete Usha's model of Gram Swaraj or self-sufficiency in villages.

With some guidance from the Usha Silai school, Anita, a woman from a small village, has written a new story with just her needle, threads, and a sewing machine.

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