Vardi Ka Samman: Upcycling Uniforms Of Retired Defence Personnel

India is a country of incredible diversity. Women often take on significant roles in their families and communities. But for many of them, a lack of opportunity and resources limits their ability to make a real impact. And that is how it has been in the village of Uncha Amirpur in the Dadri District of Uttar Pradesh. That's where the Usha Silai School program comes in. For 13 years now, the Usha Silai School programme has empowered women to learn new skills and created sustainable livelihoods. Of the many partners involved with Usha in this endeavour, the Sewaj Neesim Foundation is one of them.

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Its founder, Major General Ashim Kohli, a retired army officer, was keen to find a dignified and graceful method of utisiling old armed forces uniforms, while also upcycling this used clothing into new, marketable goods.

Recalling the idea, Major General Ashim Kohli (Retired), Founder of the Sewaj Neesim Foundation said,

Immediately after my retirement, COVID happened. During COVID, a lot of people were playing with new ideas. I stuck onto this idea - let me find out a good way for graceful disposal of the uniform.

Major Kohli was hell bent on finding an answer to “How does one dispose of their uniforms with dignity?” It was then he started a non-governmental organisation ‘Sewaj Neesim Foundation' with the theme ‘Vardi ka Samman' that is respecting the uniform. Sewaj stands for SEna WAyu Jal - the three services that make up the armed forces.

The USHA Kushalta Ke Kadam campaign focuses on empowering women and reaching the rural area to generate employment. This benefits our cause also, said Major Kohli.

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The process of upcycling presents an opportunity to the women to use their creativity in turning old uniforms into items of value and create economic opportunities for themselves at the USHA Training Cum Production Center in Uncha Amirpur. From everyday home accessories to bags and wallets – this initiative is helping women to make the most of the resources around them, gathering, cutting, stitching and using their expertise. Guiding them through the process are Usha experts who support them with designing and training. Once the uniforms are received, the team then carefully checks for any medals, insignia and name tags, and removes them with due respect. Then the process of upcycling these uniforms begins.

The production centre in Uncha Amirpur is run by Tata Power and Usha. Detailing the upcycling project, Ashutosh, Trainer at the Usha Silai School said,

As part of the ‘Vardi ka Samman' initiative, we receive old uniforms of the armed forces. The uniforms are first dry cleaned and then brought to the centre for ironing and cutting to make different products. The products are shown to the Sewaj Neesim Foundation and then either sold in the market or used as part of any other initiative. The products are made by the women of the village, who have got an employment opportunity through the program. Usha provides training support to these women.

Kumkum Raghav is one of the trainees at the production centre. Delighted to be a part of such an initiative, she wishes to involve more women in this journey of upcycling. She works hard to give these old uniforms a new life in the form of school bags, wallets, sling bags, soft toys, mobile pouches, key chains, cushion covers and more.

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Talking about her work, Kumkum Raghav said,

It has been seven to eight months since we started learning sewing with Usha. We come here by 10 am and leave by 4 pm. We work on an order basis, we also sew our clothes from our homes, and we teach other women who come here. We can earn through this and can do a lot for ourselves.

Thanking Usha for enabling her to work and earn, Kumkum said,

I would like all the women, who are watching me, to also learn.

The NGO Parivar Society handholds 85 USHA Silai Schools in various districts of Uttar Pradesh where trainers teach tailoring skills to women from low-income families. It creates in them a spirit of entrepreneurship and brings them much-needed income to help them run their homes.

Lalit Tyagi, Secretary of the NGO Parivar Society explained,

As part of the initiative ‘Vardi ka Samman', we turn old uniforms from the armed forces, with great respect, into different products like laptop bags, tote bags and side bags. A uniform is a symbol of pride and should not be left to waste. By using old uniforms, we are creating renewed respect in people's hearts, the women will also get employment and their income will increase.

The partnership between Usha and the Sewaj Neesim Foundation is creating empowered communities in rural India, and also giving these uniforms a new identity, a new purpose, and new pride as they now come to symbolise service of a different kind.

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