USHA Silai School Offers Entrepreneurial Opportunity To 3,500 Women
In 2012, USHA launched first Silai School in West Bengal, India's fourth-most populous state and by 2017 the program's success caught the attention of the West Bengal Scheduled Caste And Tribe Development Finance Corporation, which led to the life-changing initiative for thousands of women.
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Today, around 20 per cent people of West Bengal live below the poverty line, with the majority located in rural regions. Only one out of 5 women in West Bengal completes her secondary education, which is lower than most states of the country. Yet, in the rural regions of this matriarchal state, women self-employment is 22 per cent ahead of men.
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To empower women and make them independent, USHA established 700 Silai Schools in the state. Later, at a business conclave, when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee got to know about the initiative, she requested the establishments of another 3,500 Silai Schools.
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At Silai Schools, women undergo a three step training program for teaching them the A-Z of stitching and necessary skills to open their own Silai Schools. For the first six months, women are taught to stitch, then they are given mechanical training and finally enterprise training.
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'I am independent now. I and my husband work to provide for our family and I am happy that I can support my husband financially. I have also earned a lot of respect in the society because of my work. Usha is starting another 3,500 schools in West Bengal and I am happy to get one to run', says 27-year-old Sampa Rai, of Dhapganj village that lies 100 kms south of Siliguri.
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'People throw away the empty rice sacks or burn these, I buy it for Rs. 2 and make a bag from it. I sell the small bag for Rs. 10 and the bigger one for Rs. 20. After my training from USHA, I earn a lot more compared to what I was earning earlier. I want to keep learning and hope to earn even more in the future. I want to start more schools and make more profits. I have so many dreams', says Geetika.
