If the means are limited, but the intent is firm, it is remarkable how much the human spirit can achieve. From a tentative start, through a process of learning and adaptation, overcoming uncertainties and creating opportunities, to becoming the strength of the community - this has been the journey of Balamani.
Balamani, one of the super achievers of Usha Silai program, trains other women in sewing and prepares them to be self-employed at her Usha Silai School in Jadcherla, Telangana. What is astounding, is the pace and the scale at which Balamani has formed a community of her own, by training more than 340 women, who can potentially employ many other women, establishing a network of artisans and women proficient in more than sewing and embroidery.
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Sharing her journey, Balamani said,
We learnt from Usha, but we didn't want this program to end with us. Therefore, we went on to teach others. We didn't teach only stitching, we also shared life skills on how to live in a society, how to help others, how to face problems and do business.
In addition to providing training, Balamani runs two tailoring shops – one of them right from her house, employing the very women who have completed their training. The entire production process is carried out not only on high-end machines, but also through the traditional Maggam work, which involves intricate embroidery.
For the women, Balamani's strong presence draws them to the production centre day after day – often from far off places – where they can learn something new, even after their training is complete.
The training has been “very useful” for Bhavani, one of the artisans at the Usha Silai School in Jadcherla, Telangana. She said,
Before coming to the Silai School, I was sitting idle at home, and not earning any money. Then Balamani met me and encouraged me to learn machine work and Maggam work, among others. Today, I earn Rs. 4,000 – Rs. 5,000 per month.
The idea is to create more women like Balamani, who are willing to do something for themselves and society at large. The goal is to enhance the livelihoods of women.
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For Balamani, it does not stop only at sewing. There is yet another arena where she has been leaving her mark. Two years ago, Balamani and her husband Gopal founded the Women's Development Society, through which she has been able to provide clothes, rice and fruits to poor people, those in old age homes and orphanages, and to people with disabilities.
Gopal, Balamani's husband said,
I wanted to give half of my earnings to people in need. It is good to help others, and that is why we started the society.
For Balamani and Gopal, reaching out to those in need through their social work has been almost a way of life. In a sense, the seeds for this foundation were sowed long before it had come into existence. During the pandemic, for instance, their family made thousands of face masks, distributing them to shelter homes, truck drivers and people out on the roads, with nowhere to go. Yet, the road that Balamani took to reach where she is now, had its fair share of challenges, which could only be dealt with by her strong will.
Talking about the hurdles she faced, Balamani added,
We didn't care about challenges or what others said. Many people would say that she is going for a seven-day training, leaving her shop unattended, leaving her children and going somewhere far away. We didn't back down. If that first step takes you to success, the second step naturally follows. A lot of people also told us to not be afraid and come forward.
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It takes a lot of effort and time to uplift a community and bring change, something Balamani is trying to achieve with the help of her support system - her husband, and students, who often accompany her in social work. What is created in the process is a network of trust and compassion, inspiring women to make a difference beyond their individual lives.
Rajkumar, Program Coordinator, Telangana, Usha International Limited, gave the title of “role model” and “leader” to Balamani. He said,
She has plenty of talent, like she can manage work all day and train 20 to 30 persons at a time. She's ready to take any order and face all kinds of circumstances.
Backing the positive remarks, Ameena Begum, one of the artisans at the Usha Production Centre said,
Balamani has a friendly nature and gels up well with people. I like the way she explains different concepts of stitching and guides us.
A society's growth is often measured by how its most disadvantaged groups are faring, a condition which Balamani – along with her husband and students – is trying to change. Yet, the goal she has out to achieve goes beyond numbers, as she strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people in her community, through her limited means. She added,
After being trained by Usha, we established the Women Development Society, following which there has been a 100 per cent change. What do people do these days when others are in trouble? They don't care. One should not do that. We should help a little. If you help someone, the happiness that you see on their face, does not go away.
This, perhaps, is what makes Balamani a super achiever. In her quest to create a lasting social impact, Balamani has set her priority clearly: by choosing to take everyone together in her journey, she hopes to not only walk fast, but walk much further too.
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