Inspired, Empowered

As a part of their annual projects for the year, the Hyderabad Rotary International setup a vocational training centre for women and adolescent girls in Bowenpally, at the beginning of the year. The centre offers a six-month certification course that trains women and empowers them with livelihood opportunities.

Speaking to the CityTAB, District Governor of Rotary International, Gopinath Reddy spoke about the training centre, saying, “We provided 30 sewing machines for training purposes in collaboration with Singer sewing machines. Women are allowed to take the machines home after they complete their training (at a lower cost).”

The training space is donated by RMPT (Ratnabhai Munuswani Charitable Trust) run by Pushpalatha, a retired deputy manager at SBI. Swashakthi SMART, founded in 1999, mainly works for women health and empowerment, apart from adolescent girl care, social awareness and legal aid.

In March 2014, a regular training centre to earn from home was started for women by Madhavi Sasanakota, which is now running in collaboration with the training centre by Rotary International. Fashion designer by profession,

Madhavi gives training to these women making them experts in stitching kurtis and designing blouses, which are later sold in the market under the brand ‘Madhavi’. Speaking to us, Madhavi says, “We provide raw material during training and once it is completed we encourage women to start stitching at homes, allowing them to have their own income.”

“We completed two batches of training with 30 people each of which most of them are earning nearly Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 a month, stitching from homes,” she added. Ratna Mani (60), an employee at the training centre, says, “My husband works in Miyapur.

I have a daughter who is married and a son who is working in Madhapur. After I came to know about the training centre, I developed an interest in starting my own business. Now, I am able to inspire women in my colony, who are getting trained at the centre and are able to make their own income.”

“I don’t feel that I’m 60 anymore. Being a house wife for many years and now being able to inspire many women around me, makes me more enthusiastic,” she adds. Currently, the fresh batch at the training centre is led by Madhavi, who is 15 years old.

“Before coming here, I never knew how to communicate in English, or how to speak with elders and be disciplined. I was not ambitious and lacked self-confidence. After getting trained here, I’m now able to stitch beautiful designer blouses along with training other women.”