In the heart of India, a powerful movement is taking shape, driven by ambition, skill, and partnership. USHA International Ltd., a trusted name in Indian households, is joining hands with Godavari Power & Ispat Ltd. (GPIL), a leading steel manufacturer, to empower women and transform their communities.
Recognizing the importance of sustainable development, GPIL sought out USHA International as a partner to uplift women through skill development in a rural area of Raipur.
Yogita Rawat, AGM of CSR at GPIL, highlights the organization's commitment,
"This area is quite backward in many ways. Being an aware & responsible organization, we thought about how we could empower women from rural areas. With that thought, our CSR division came up with the idea of a project for women."
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In 2023, this vision became reality with the establishment of a Training Cum Production Centre, where women are equipped with essential sewing and stitching skills.
Alok Tripathi, Programme Coordinator at USHA Social Services, explains the collaboration,
"USHA leads the way in partnering with like-minded organizations, corporates, and other entities like us. That is why we have established a production centre here in Raipur, which is run by USHA and Godavari Power and Ispat Limited."
At this centre, expert trainers guide eager learners through the intricacies of tailoring, creating an environment bustling with activity and creativity.
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Trainer Gayatri Verma shares her experience, stating,
"When I came here, the first batch was already there. I always prepare before coming here about what I will teach today."
The training centre serves as a hub of empowerment, allowing women who were once confined to their homes to envision brighter futures.
Karimunisha, a trainee, expresses her excitement about her newfound skills,
"I used to sew at home with my own understanding of measurements. After coming here, I see that the measurement is done differently. If I get an order from somewhere, I can stitch it and complete the order."
Over 20 women from surrounding villages receive comprehensive training for 25 days, learning technical skills and gaining confidence and financial independence. Many of these women have started earning by offering their services, making garments, or launching small businesses. The ripple effect of this skill-building initiative has the potential to uplift entire families.
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Roshni Taam, another trainee, shares her success story,
"I used to sew at home, and I could barely earn Rs 3,000-4,000. But going there to give training has doubled my income. Now, I earn around Rs 12,000."
For GPIL, this partnership extends beyond corporate social responsibility.
Yogita Rawat emphasizes the organization's goal,
"We felt that there's scope for improvement in these women's skills. With the help of USHA and our partner NGO, Waste to Best Welfare Society, we will accomplish the goal that we have fixed for the women."
As they rally behind the cause of women's empowerment, USHA International and Godavari Power & Ispat Ltd. illuminate the path toward a more inclusive future. This journey has just begun, and with each step, they come closer to realizing a society where every woman can achieve her dreams.
By partnering with USHA Silai Schools, organizations can contribute to a high-impact CSR initiative. USHA's well-established model ensures that contributions translate directly into tangible skills and economic independence for women, complete with measurable results and transparent reporting.
Discover how USHA partners with Godavari Power & Ispat Ltd. to empower women through skill development, transforming lives and communities in Raipur
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Know how USHA Silai School program transforms lives in rural India, empowering women through skill training, community support, and partnerships with corporations and NGOs
Learn how initiatives like USHA Silai School, led by passionate individuals like Sana Aftab and the Kapoors, are empowering women in underserved communities with skills, economic independence, and hope
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.
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.