Despite Physical And Mental Challenges, USHA Silai School Women Are Carving A Path For Themselves

Meet the USHA Silai school heroes who have created a pathway for themselves and uplifted others in learning stitching and sewing skills, despite the physical challenges and social prejudices they have been facing in their lives

USHA is turning women into entrepreneurs and the Local Resource Persons (LRPs). LRPs are those women who are already employed as Silai school teachers with USHA. It is made sure that they are associated with USHA for at least three years and are competent administrators of the Silai School program.

From dealing with despair and anxiety after her husband's death to becoming a local resource person for USHA, it has been a remarkable decade for 41-year-old Salma Bano from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district.
Ms. Bano started as a Silai school teacher but today she has earned her identity as a Trainer, Motivator and Counsellor. Currently, she has ten learners being trained in her Silai School.
Today, the confident Ms. Bano not only manages her training and stitching but also steps out regularly to mobilise other women, encouraging them to be self-employed and learn new skills.

Local Resource Persons(LRPs) are drawn from within the community and are trained well by USHA as they work as a channel between the organisation and Silai School Teachers.
Anti Devi, an adivasi from remote Sonbhadra in eastern UP, and Annapurna Devi, a qualified teacher from Varanasi are working and training other women as a local resource person.
Paralysed at limbs, Minaben battled her disability as well as social prejudice due to her physical constraints, by joining the USHA Silai school. She is now a Master Trainer and a Local Resource Person (LRP) in Dolka, Gujarat.

In the past seven years, Ms Minaben has transitioned from an USHA Silai School learner to a Master Trainer and is now working as a Local Resource Person.
Today, Ms. Minaben runs a production centre along with specially-abled women in Dholka. She has never charged a single penny from these women for the training, as she believes that she owes this service to every specially-abled woman in society.