From Having No Steady Source Of Income To Earning Rs. 45,000 A Month, Here Is How A. Metildamary Changed Her Life

Delhi: 39-year-old A. Metildamary who hails from Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu has a packed daily schedule:

5am. Wake-up call for the day to begin with all the household chores, cook food for the family.

8am. Send both the children to school.

9am. Get ready to reach Silai School and start work.

2pm - 3pm. Take a break.

Then once work resumes it may go on till 9pm or 11pm depending on the quantum of work.

This hectic schedule, has enabled Metildamary to earn well and send her children to school. But life was not always this kind.

With no steady source of income, Metildamary always faced financial crunch in her life. Her husband, Antony, who works as a driver earned enough to sustain the family's basic needs. But Metildamary had bigger plans, especially for her children. She wished to send her boy, who is in 12th grade and her daughter, who is in 9th grade, to a private school. Determined to provide a better future to her children, Metildamary joined USHA Silai School in December 2013.

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Metildamary, who had prior knowledge and experience of basic stitching work, joined for an advanced course and learnt embroidery and other stitching work. From having a basic knowledge of stitching and sewing to learning chudidaar cutting, in and out piping, making use of leftover cloth pieces to make something new and bringing a finish in her work, she learned everything at USHA Silai School under the guidance of experts.

After a week long training, Metildamary opened her own Silai School on January 15, 2014. As of today, she has trained over 130 women and is currently taking a class of three. Of 130 students, she has hired three to work and assist her at her silai school. With her own silai school, she manages to earn Rs. 45,000 every month. Initially, Metildamary, used to charge Rs. 500 for giving training, but with the passage of time and improvement in the quality of work, she now charges Rs. 1,000.

Metildamary, who earlier could not even cut a square perfectly now knows numerous designs and offers her creations to customers. Her clientele has seen her growth and appreciate the finish in her work.

There are two kinds of customers, one who have a design in their mind and will want that only while the other trust the tailor and let them put their own designs. In the latter case, we use the designs we have learned during our training and implement that on customer's dress. Many a times, customers like the designs I make for them and they not only come again, but also spread the word which brings in more clients, says Metildamary.

Metildamary's hardwork made her a part of a team of 32 USHA Silai School women who produced a clothing line. In addition to this, the clothing line was launched at the Lakme Fashion Week. As part of this, the women not only got an opportunity to learn from professional designers, but also work with them and produce a clothing line.

Impressed by her own work and the quality of life she is living, Metildamary wishes to continue with stitching and one day establish a giant textile/garments company and offer more job to learners and women in her village.

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