NGO's vocational training changing women's lives

Being the eldest daughter in a family in which both parents were disabled, 22-year-old Ashita was solely responsible for her family. With the family's financial condition in doldrums, she dropped out of school after Class VIII.

The future seemed bleak but then Ashita came in contact with NGO Indha, which imparts training to women in vocational courses, so that they can sustain themselves. The Bajghera resident started learning stitching, making paper bags and so on.

"It was necessary for me to learn something to help my family as I am the eldest and my parents are physically challenged. Now I earn Rs 7,000 per month and also have provident funds," she said.

Currently pursuing Class XII from an open school, Ashita wishes to attend college. She says the six years she spent at the Indha training centre changed her life.

"I had no idea about the things that were taught here and did not have any interest in work. But gradually, I learned block printing, paper making, and embroidery work," she said.

Sudha Singh, a resident of Gonda in Uttar Pradesh (UP) was also flailing in life when Indha's vocational training saved her. There were days when the domestic abuse victim and her children would go without a single meal.

The 32-year-old finally found a way at the training centre. She is now the supervisor at the store where things made by the women are kept.

"I was subjected to domestic violence after my mother-in-law's death. My parents had died after my marriage and my husband was in Delhi, working with my brother-in-law. There were days when me and my children slept without food because my father-in-law would lock all of us in the kitchen," she said, adding that she came in contact with Indha in Delhi and now leads an independent life.

"I manage an entire store now and supervise the items to be sold. My life has changed completely. I can proudly say that I can sustain myself," Sudha said.

Indha, which was born out of another NGO Literacy India, supports several such women. The organisation works for making women self-sufficient by providing them training in skills such as block printing, paper making, stitching, embroidery, paper manufacturing, and so on.

Founded by Indrani Singh, Indha works with 350 women from all walks of life, to train them in various skills. The products made by them are then sold. "The programme has been specially created for the upliftment of women and girls. Community surveys are conducted to enroll beneficiaries at the project locations," Project Manager Satya Prakash said.

Launched 10 years ago, the NGO makes products such as bags of silk, jute, recycled material and paper, furnishing items, applique work and quilting, and paper products. They are then sold in various places, including the United Kingdom (UK). The revenue generated is then used for the upliftment of these women.