In Odisha's Rourkela, Women Are Stitching A Life Of Financial Independence With Usha

In Purunapani village of Rourkela in Odisha, women are determined to build a better life for themselves. A life of financial independence. And this has been made possible by another government body's collaboration with Usha. The collaboration between Usha Silai School and Rourkela Steel Plant represents a fusion of corporate social responsibility and the promotion of skill development and entrepreneurship. The partnership aims to harness the strengths of both organisations to create a sustainable ecosystem for empowering women in the Rourkela region of Odisha.

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Talking about the partnership, Munmun Mitra, General Manager, CSR, Rourkela Steel Plant, SAIL said,

Usha Silai School has been involved in our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Enterprise Social Commitment (ESC) initiatives and we have had a very positive experience with them. Rourkela steel plant had a tie-up with the Usha project to train women and provide them with equipment and the hardware to pursue their sewing jobs in their villages following a blue ocean strategy.

The blue ocean strategy essentially means creating a new market space and demand.

The Rourkela Steel Plant, one of India's largest steel plants, demonstrates a steadfast dedication to the advancement of the community and is involved in diverse welfare initiatives. Going beyond mere acts of philanthropy or charity, the Rourkela Steel Plant has embraced a strategic approach aimed at fostering sustainable development within the surrounding villages. Simultaneously, for over three decades, the Gram-Utthan NGO has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between women residing in rural areas and Usha's training program.

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Sharing details of the programme, Guru Prasad Mohanty, Project Coordinator, Gram-Utthan NGO said,

First we go door-to-door in the villages and select those women who have some prior knowledge of sewing. Then an assessment is carried out after which we shortlist 15 women. We monitor them every month and help link them with Mission Shakti.

The training-cum-production centre in the Purunapani village was granted a corpus seed money of Rs. 50,000 by Rourkela Steel Plant. This marks the first such introduction of this concept, which not only involves a financial contribution but also emphasises the active involvement of the funding partner. It demonstrates the trust that all partners have in the abilities of the women involved and helps women to start accepting initial bulk orders without concerns about expenses.

Bijayananda Dash, Program Coordinator, Odisha, Usha Silai School explained,

We thought that these women possess great capabilities for work. If we help them with capacity building, they can progress further. But a common problem is that when they receive orders, they often don't have money to buy raw materials. Our proposal to the Rourkela Steel Plant was to provide these women with the seed money needed for their projects.

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Usha is continuously working to improve the social and economic status of women. And it is evident how training has proved to be beneficial for them, as their conditions are changing and their lives are taking a new turn.

Shanti Dang, one of the Trainees at the Usha Silai School in Odisha shared,

We were informed by one of our committee members that Usha is looking to train those women who have a little education, and know a little about sewing. We all came here and people from Usha, Rourkela Steel Plant, and Gram-Utthan were also here. We learned sewing and now we are running our own business. We are also selling a few items in the market.

One of the unique aspects of the Usha Silai School training program is its emphasis on training women to become all-rounders. Beyond the technical skills of stitching and embroidery, the 15-day program includes modules on marketing and sales strategies. Trainers at these schools recognise that merely mastering the craft is just the first step. It is equally important for these women to understand how to effectively market and sell their products.

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Shanti Dang added,

We take our products to sell in the market. People ask us about them. Customers like our products and happily buy them.

Further talking about the success of the programme, Mr Dash said, “Within three to four months, these women have earned around Rs. 50,000. The good thing is that they have distributed the profit among themselves. They use a collective approach to make their products and market them.”

The collaboration between Usha Silai School and Rourkela Steel Plant in establishing the Usha Training-cum-Production Center exemplifies the potential for positive change when corporates, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals collaborate with grassroots initiatives to empower women.

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, believes Rupa Tete, Vice President, Usha Social Services. She added,

We have local master trainers who can teach in the regional language and we also have a robust management information system for seamless review and monitoring.

The initiative not only provides essential skills to women but also promotes financial independence, gender equality, and community development. It serves as an inspiring example of how collaborative efforts can contribute to a more inclusive and empowered society.

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