In a small village in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district, Jyoti Rani's life was once defined by its simplicity and contentment. Married in 2018, she and her husband built a modest life together, raising two young sons. Her husband worked at a local sugar mill, earning enough to keep the family afloat. But in November 2022, tragedy struck. Jyoti's husband lost his life in a fatal accident at the mill, leaving her alone to care for their children. Life, once steady, became engulfed by uncertainty. Recalling her ordeal, Jyoti shared,
My husband was a kind man who treated me with love. Our life was going well. But some people grew jealous of his earnings. He got into an argument with a contractor from another village. The argument stopped and he returned to his work. Later, while working near the furnace, the contractor pushed him. He managed to steady himself the first time but lost his balance the second time. He was admitted to a hospital in Meerut and passed away after eight days. That's when our troubles began. I couldn't even feed my children properly.
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With no income and limited family support, Jyoti took up backbreaking labor in the sugarcane fields to provide for her family. She said,
I had to feed my children, I knew I had to do something about it. I worked hard as a daily wage labour. I would peel the sugarcanes, earning Rs 150-200 a day, but even then we were barely making ends meet.
In November 2023, a spark of hope emerged. Jyoti was selected for the Silai School training program, a nine-day course that gave her a chance to build new skills and reimagine her future. Speaking about the opportunity, she said,
When Sir came to the village and learned about my situation, he wrote down my name for the training. Some people tried to discourage me, saying it would be too hard to manage. But my mother-in-law supported me, offering to take care of my children. I attended the nine-day training, working day and night.
By December 2023, Jyoti launched her own sewing school, enrolling 15 learners and accepting tailoring orders from the community. Slowly but surely, her hard work began paying off. For the first time since her husband's death, she started earning a steady income, bringing much-needed stability to her household.
However, challenges persisted. In May 2024, her trainees refused to pay their fees, doubting her ability to deliver official certificates. Undeterred, Jyoti persisted, and by June 2024, the learners received their certificates. Her growing reputation as a skilled teacher grew, bringing new students, and her monthly income increased to Rs. 7,500.
With this income, Jyoti enrolled her younger son in school, and her family's future, once uncertain, began to look brighter. Today, Jyoti Rani stands as a symbol of resilience and determination. She transformed her life from despair to hope, creating opportunities for herself and others in her community.
Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope. Reflecting on her progress, Jyoti said,
People now look at me with respect. Usha Silai School has given me so much. I am happy and can now feed my children and take care of my expenses on my own.
Usha continues to empower women worldwide, turning adversity into success stories like Jyoti Rani's and building a future where women are not just surviving but thriving.
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