Usha And NEEPCO Are Empowering Women Through Skill Enhancement And Employment Prospects

The Usha Silai School programme is a social project aimed at empowering women in rural regions by teaching them how to sew. Recognising the potential for socio-economic transformation through skill development, Usha has joined hands with various government bodies over the years to establish Usha Silai Schools in rural areas. The collaboration between Usha International and government bodies underscores a shared commitment to fostering grassroots development and promoting inclusive growth. By facilitating access to vocational training in remote regions, this collaboration not only equips individuals with sewing and entrepreneurial skills but also contributes to the larger goal of women's empowerment and community development.

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Kalpana Debbarma lives in Desharampara village of West Tripura. Before her marriage, Kalpana had a passion for clothing and used to sell ready-made garments. She was also interested in designing. At the age of 22, she married a tailor, and it was then that she expressed a desire to learn the art of sewing. Recalling the tale, Kalpana said,

When I got married, I was given a sewing machine. My husband already knew how to sew. He taught me some sewing and it became a source of income for us.

But, Kalpana's husband earned a mere Rs. 5,000 a month, which wasn't sufficient to run a household. Around that time, Usha along with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) was running a nine-day training programme to teach women how to sew. Usha and NEEPCO equipped Kalpana with a valuable skill that allowed her to pursue her hobby while also effectively managing her household.

Kalpana Debbarma explained,

At the training provided by Usha and NEEPCO, I learned to sew properly. We were taught how to design different things like dresses and kurta. After coming back from the training, I started making and selling different products. This improved our income and helped me provide my children with a good education.

Today, Kalpana and her husband share the finances and take care of the household expenses together.

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The success of the silai schools stems from the pivotal role played by the trainers. These trainers undergo rigorous training to acquire essential sewing and embroidery skills and knowledge. Their main role is to teach diverse sewing techniques and skills, encompassing stitching, embroidery, and tailoring, to the women within the community. In addition to practical skills, the trainers also educate the women on theoretical aspects of sewing, such as understanding the fabric and its qualities, measurement, pattern making, and garment construction. Their first and only priority is to ensure that their students gain a thorough understanding of the subject.

The Usha Silai School offers flexible and customised training curriculum to different government entities, as well as corporates and public sector undertakings (PSUs) under their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Virendra Vegad, Trainer at the Usha Silai School explained, Despite them not being educated, we have to teach women how to calculate, multiply and divide during the cutting. We improvise to teach them. This will help them change their lives.

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The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), Usha's partner in this remarkable endeavor, is a state-owned enterprise engaged in the production and dissemination of electricity in the Northeastern region of India. By establishing a comprehensive partnership, NEEPCO and Usha have leveraged their strengths to foster sustainable energy and empower women through skill enhancement and valuable employment prospects.

Nanda Basumatary, Head of Power Station at NEEPCO, Tripura said,

We decided to partner with Usha because, with skill or knowledge of sewing, the local ladies in the area, who are underprivileged, are becoming self-reliant. In the future, they can impart their knowledge to their nearest neighbours or relatives. Accordingly, the economic growth in and around the village or locality would be developed.

Usha and NEEPCO firmly believe that empowering the women of rural India will not only enable them to support their households, but it will make them role models for other women in their community. And for the women, not only will they receive valuable training from Usha Silai School and NEEPCO, but they will also be provided a complete kit with which to start their business.

Kalpana and lakhs of other women like her can now take care of their household while also running a business due to Usha and a public sector enterprise like NEEPCO.

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