Story- Geetha Sunil

Udaipur— One may find the figure startling but the truth is, Kushalgarh, the small sub-divisional township in South Rajasthan's Banswara district, is gaining recognition for craftsmanship and tailoring. A large chunk of its populace ekes out a living from sewing.

Four thousand women in and around Kushalgarh are trained in sewing and embroidery. Many, have mastered clay art and soft toy making. There is a skilled tailor in almost every home here, an expert in stitching trendy clothes.

Interestingly, over 95 percent of the seamstresses are graduates with only a handful of them having read up to the middle classes. These women here are earning anywhere between 10 thousand to 40 thousand a month and that too, without any government intervention or support! Thanks to the grit and determination of a young entrepreneur and social activist Nidhi Seth, who through her 'Sakhi' initiative since 2016, has been working to generate livelihood opportunities for the locals, especially the woman folk.

The trained women are given not just a certificate on the successful completion of a 6-month course but also a mechanized sewing machine so that the seamstresses do not have to look out for help.

The 'Sakhi' idea dawned during Nidhi's field trips for research over the condition of tribal women in remote locations. She was worried by the disturbing research findings which indicated that an overwhelming number of men have been migrating to Gujarat cities in search of work.

Nidhi says, "A majority of women are left behind to manage a household with a meager amount their husbands would send home each month. So 'Sakhi' struck on me as a skill development program."

Nidhi approached the authorities first, but their response was disheartening and hence putting in funds from her savings, Nidhi embarked on the mission of strengthening women in the area in 2016.

"The major interventions of Sakhi have been embroidery, clay art, toy making, Mehndi design and education. Four thousand women have benefited and many of them have started their own tailoring shops and earn respectable incomes," add Nidhi.

"This is a major boost to their family earnings and has raised the status of the women in their family and community. It has also checked migration of the women folk to nearby and distant cities," Says Sanjay Lodha, a retired professor of Political Science and advisor at Sakhi.

Govt apathy is killing

Despite of a large workforce, sewing resources and above all strong will to work, the Sakhis have been unable to bag much of state help in getting them orders.

All what the government's tribal department has given them is orders worth 7 lakh rupees in these years. The tailors are working for the open market which is seasonal and lacks any guarantee of a fixed income.

The govt apathy has been so frustrating that the women are even mulling on the idea of boycotting state elections due next year. "When many of migrants returned home from big cities due to the pandemic lockdown, they didn't have to worry for two-course meals as their wives, who were attached with Sakhi program earned enough to support their families," says Nidhi.

However, this strong economic growth has been totally gone unrecognized by the state which is frustrating for women's power. "From the chief minister's office to the divisional commissioner, officers in the tribal welfare department, legislators to parliamentarians, I have visited everyone but no one truly cares. Only false assurances are all that I have received. They will award work to brands but not to our skilled team which is capable of creating all kind of fashionable and trendy clothes and intricate embroideries," Nidhi speaks in a resentful tone.

The activist says all the government needs is votes from the people but actually do not want to give anything in return.

"If only the government gives us bulk orders, our women folk would remain employed for year-round and become prosperous," Sangeeta Patel, a resident of Merana village claims.

Sangita earns around 20 thousand a month and no longer wants to work at Gujarat construction sites like before. Sakhi also has a small library which caters to the needs of the school and college-going students in this book-starved region.