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Celebrating Womens Empowerment At 5th Meghalaya Aajivika Saras Mela
Team NDTV | Updated: March 13, 2025 14:43 IST
The beautiful city of Shillong, nestled in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, recently became a vibrant hub of creativity and entrepreneurship through the 5th Meghalaya Aajivika Saras Mela 2024. Organized by the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS) in collaboration with the Government and USHA, the fair celebrated the incredible journey of women entrepreneurs, showcasing handmade crafts and traditional products from self-help groups.
Women In Stitching: Crafting Careers Through USHA Silai School
This event had a special focus on women trained at the various USHA Training cum Production Centres, aimed at empowering them to innovate and create sustainable livelihoods. The fair served not just as a marketplace but as a movement geared towards uplifting grassroots entrepreneurs and celebrating the strength of community-led businesses.
Ms. Rinky Kyndait, State Mission Manager at MSRLS, remarked on the partnership with USHA, stating,
"We've been working together for 4 to 5 years, and integrating USHA's products into the fair allowed us to give a face to the women behind the crafts."
This partnership has provided vital support to numerous women, enabling them to showcase both their products and themselves as empowered individuals.
One of the beneficiaries, Roshnika Khongwet, expressed her gratitude, saying,
“I feel very happy participating here and want to thank MSRLS and USHA for their support.”
Mamata Devi's Journey From Grief To Growth In Rural India
A major highlight of this year's Saras Mela was a vibrant fashion show that showcased women's confidence, creativity, and self-reliance.
Kishore, Program Coordinator at USHA International, said,
“Women are now identifying market demands and managing the entire process, from packaging to branding.”
The Chief Guest, Shri Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Principal Secretary of Meghalaya, expressed pride in the diverse range of products on display, celebrating the union of craft, culture, and creativity.
As the event closed, the stories of these women entrepreneurs served as an inspiring reminder that with the right support, dreams can indeed take flight. The Saras Mela not only showcased creative talents but also reaffirmed the collective strength of women working toward a brighter, empowered future.
Published: March 13, 2025 10:45 IST
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USHAs Silai School Programme empowers women across India by turning sewing into independence. Women become trainers and leaders, transforming their lives and communities through skills, confidence, and income
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.
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.
Kushalta ke Kadam: Aiming for Independence Through Stitching
Rebari girls grow up learning traditional embroidery, which along with their new found sewing skills developed at Usha Silai Schools, is helping them earn a living.
Usha Silai School has empowered many rural women to support their family and send their children to school.
The Usha Silai School, established in a small nondescript village that goes by the name of Kottai, is helping empower people from varied communities.
The all-inclusive Usha Silai School Programme covers the entire nation from hamlets tucked between hills to villages cast by the sea.
Vegetables farmers from the Mizoram hills earn very little given the topography of the area. Usha Silai Schools have played an important part in this region by skilling women to financially contribute towards their households.
Usha Silai School learner Lucy has trained seven other women in her community, helping them to become financially independent.
Women like Kaviben from the nomadic Rebari community are finally laying down their roots as they begin to gain financial independence and thereby stability through Usha Silai School.
Usha Silai School, located in the Gujarat's Bhuj village, is enabling rural women to earn as much as Rs. 2,500-4,000 each month.
Usha Silai School, in association with a Gujarat based NGO called Kala Raksha, is trying to bring about a Silai revolution in Bhuj.
Besides training other women from their community, many Usha Silai School learners have become entrepreneurs in their own right.
With sewing becoming easily accessible and lucrative, the silai schools are also helping revive traditional motifs and designs.