Journey Of Shilpi Das, From Adversity To Empowerment Through Usha Silai School

“There was a time when we didn't have food to put on our table. If Usha had not helped me, I would have remained in poverty and continued to suffer," says Shilpi Das from Belonia in Tripura. Life had been very difficult for Shilpi, her husband, and two children, but joining the Usha programme in 2016 gave her a new sense of identity within society, and her financial situation also began to improve.

It is because of Usha, today, I am living a good life. I thank Usha from the bottom of my heart.

For over a decade, the Usha Silai School program has been weaving stories of empowerment across the diverse fabric of India. Its mission transcends mere education; it aspires to ensure that every corner of India is touched by these life-changing programs, empowering women and giving them the self-sufficiency and eventually recognition they truly deserve. The ultimate goal is to establish Silai (tailoring) schools in the farthest corners of our diverse nation, capturing the beauty of India's rich tapestry and the transformative power of the Silai School program. Shilpi Das's story is emblematic of the program's profound impact.

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Belonia, a bustling hub for Immigration and Duty Inspection, serves as a vital checkpoint for travelers journeying between India and Bangladesh. This vibrant town showcases a beautiful blend of cultural exchanges between the people of both countries, fostering a sense of unity and understanding. It is in the heart of this town that Shilpi Das lives. Sharing her journey, Shipli Das, Entrepreneur, Usha Silai School said,

I went to learn to stitch and sew from Usha so that I could earn and uplift myself and my family, and provide education to my children.” She added, “It is because of Usha, that the distance between you and me has reduced, else I would have remained a housewife and would not have been able to reach here. My students call me Silai Ma'am. They also know that I am the woman who works with Usha Silai school.

Shilpi's husband Ranjit Das runs a rubber business. Rubber trees can be tapped for latex only after they have matured, and that takes years. With such a long wait for a rubber tree to become productive, Shilpi's husband ran into financial difficulties. However, the Usha program provided the family a lifeline. Ranjit Das, Shilpi's husband said,

Earlier, we used to do small work and had a severe financial crisis. However, now, my wife got a silai job, she received training and even gave training to others. I have also trained in (rubber) and learned a lot. In 2016, I received my training and now I have a garden. My monthly income has increased from Rs 8,000 - Rs. 10,000 to Rs 15,000 - Rs. 16,000 now. After combining the income of my wife and mine, we can now take care of our family. We are leading a better life today.

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Usha Silai School: More Than Just Sewing

Operating in India's challenging border areas, the Usha Silai School has shown remarkable courage and determination in empowering women in stitching and sewing skills. In these remote regions, these schools have become a beacon of hope and opportunities. Financial troubles aside, working in remote areas of the country can bring its own unique set of challenges. There are often issues with the availability of raw materials, and if the machines break down, they have to be transported to the city for repairs. The training provided by Usha helps the women address many of these repairs and maintenance challenges, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Sadhna Sharma, Assistant Regional Manager, Usha International Ltd said,

“We have extended schools in the border areas as well. But there are a lot of difficulties in border areas. They don't get the exact raw material or the training facilities. People have to migrate to different places to get all those things. So, we have started a training program here where people get the quality of training which has helped them to start their own business from their house itself.

Explaining how training like this will help people living in border areas, Ms Sharma said,

There is a dearth of tailors here. People have to travel to distant places to get their work done. So, this type of school is helping people start a business here and they have understood how to purchase the raw material from the cities.

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The Usha sewing centers, spread across the most remote corners of India, are empowering women by creating financially independent entrepreneurs. The most effective tool in this programme is that the women go on to train others like themselves, spreading the effect of positive change. This remarkable transformation is a testament to the dedication and determination of both Usha and these women to make a difference. Sadhna further said,

Before starting this training, we had seen most of the ladies, they didn't have their own identities. They were known as someone's wife, someone's mother or a sister or a daughter. But after completing the course, they have got an identity as a teacher. And, that confidence level helps them influence society also. The way they change their house, their earning comes to their family. In the same way, they develop the society and the community as a whole. So, Usha mainly focuses on developing the community.

Krishna Shriram, Executive Chairman, Usha International Limited said,

We wanted to go to the bottom of the pyramid to create affection for the brand with the machine we already had. It's a very romantic business in its way, so we started by going to the smallest villages. Since Usha is pan-India, we decided that Silai school should also be pan-India, and not done in certain pockets.

Explaining the idea behind the Usha Silai school, Mr Shriram said, "It was to create livelihood possibility for the women from the product that we sell". He added,

Firstly, we'll carry on growing because we haven't hit a few per cent of the villages in India, so the growth percentage is there. We also want people now to go into creativity. So we started an app and we made several sewing videos on how to make certain garments, so we started sending that out so it's not just sewing and the job work but also passion.