Till now, 298 women trained in basic sewing, most of them have started earning their livelihood.
Cuttack, Orissa: In India, there is a wide gender disparity in literacy rate. The effective literacy rate (age 7 and above) was 82.14 percent for men and 65.46 percent for women in 2011. Low female literacy rate has had a negative impact on family planning and population stabilization efforts. Studies have indicated that female literacy is a strong predictor of the use of contraception among married Indian couples, even when women do not have economic independence.
Several women are confined to their homes, and depend on men to meet the family’s financial needs. When men fail to meet the needs, women are forced to step out of the house and work. Education or vocation helps women gain financial independence, and infuses confidence in them to meet challenges.
It gives them an opportunity to express their creativity, and brings satisfaction in their achievements, thus creating a healthy and happy society.
The Art of Living has provided a platform to 298 women of 14 villages in Cuttack, Orissa. It has offered vocational training to them and helped improve sewing and stitching skills. These women have also been taught stress management techniques, which has helped them remain physically and mentally fit.
Binodini (25), who completed one such sewing and stitching programme in 2012, is now teaching other women in her village. She has gained financial independence through this. “I could study only up to matriculation because of my father’s financial limitations. After getting trained in sewing and tailoring, I’m earning Rs 3000-4000. This is not only helping me meet my personal financial needs but also enabling me to support my father and younger brother.”
“The Art of Living’s sewing programme and happiness programme have increased my confidence and given me a sense of empowerment and independence,” Binodini said. She now teaches in her village, Bodisahi, and travels to the surrounding villages to spread the awareness among other women. She is also taking part in the advanced training in embroidery offered by SSRDP (Sri Sri Rural Development Project).
The Art of Living’s Sri Sri Rural Development Project (SSRDP) and Sri Sri Ravishankar Trust (SSRT) are kindling new hope in rural women, especially in the villages adjoining Sri Sri University (SSU), Cuttack, by imparting vocational training in sewing and embroidery. The training programme is supervised by Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Mohanty - Associate Director (PR & CSO) of SSU.
Till now, of the 298 women trained in basic sewing, most have started earning their livelihood. “Before the training our source of income was limited to crops. Though we toiled hard, we earned very little. Now, I’m confident of meeting the financial needs of our family,” said Niharika Behera, who is getting advanced training in embroidery. This programme helps women to become entrepreneurs in future.
Besides her, there are 14 other women undergoing advanced training under a comprehensive three months programme in embroidery at Godi Sahi village. They are from 14 villages surrounding SSU – Naraj (A Group), Naraj (B Group), Arilo, Ratagarha, Ratagarh Nuasahi, Godisahi, Brahamani gaon, Sandhapur (A), Sandhapur (B), Chandiprasad, Mundamuhana, Kuhneipada, Ramdashpur, Padmanavanagar and Trisulia.
Reported by: Rajesh Kundu
