Skill Enhancements Do Pay

I am Gomathi, a self-employed woman. I have one daughter, she is studying 8th standard. I am making handicraft studs, necklace, bangles and anklets with crystal and pearls manufacturing and also selling. My father is Mariappan and my mother is Vijayalakhmi. My father worked as a labourer (cooli) and my mother is a housewife. I have one elder sister and two younger brothers. We are poor. My father’s earnings were not adequate to feed the family. I quitted my school studies in 10thbecause I was not interested in studies. My elder sister studied 12thstandardand my two brothers also studied up to 10thstandard and now they are also employed.

I got married when I was 19 years old. My husband is Mahalingam. He ran a chat items shop, after marriage I started supporting my husband in his work. In my childhood, I had interest in making handicraft items. I used to draw pangolin in my house and my parents and neighbours used to appreciate me. But, after my marriage I forgot handicrafts making. I was fully engaged in providing support to my husband’s business and on my child.

My life went on smooth without any problem; suddenly my husband died due to kidney failure. He didn’t have any bad habits like smoking, alcohol, etc. Often he has body pain so he used to consume tablets without doctor prescription. It is found to be the cause for his ailment. When he died at the time my daughter was studying 2ndstandard in Kariyapatti. So, after his death, I relocated to Madurai to my mother’s house. I ran my life with my husband’s savings. I was so depressed to lead the life in the absence of my husband. But the responsibility of raising the child held me back. I won't go anywhere, I won't speak to anyone. I used to be in my home the whole day.

Joining the Kalanjiam

On seeing my activities my sister MrsSenthamarai told me to join in Kalanjiam for a change. I also felt that I should come out of my grief. I took her words and I joined in her Kalanjiam group “Manonmani Kalanjiam” in 2012. Initially, I started to save Rs. 200 per month and I took some loan for my daughter’s education. Through DHAN Foundation our Madurai Vattara Kalanjiam organized handicraft training to our members. Including me, totally 30 to 35 members have undergone the training program, but this training program helped me bring out my childhood talents. So I thought of making this as my profession and want to succeed in it.

Growth of my Business

After undergoing the handicraft training, I started making ornaments for my daughter. She wore those handicraft studs, Jewels, Anklets and bangles and her friends and teachers asked me to do similar handicrafts for them. Thus, I became a businesswoman. I was not happy at my designs initially. Later I developed skill to make ornaments without any defect and I check for its quality thoroughly.

In the beginning, I did only studs and through my continuous interest for making handicraft things I learned how to make jewels, anklets, bangles with crystal. I downloaded the videos from YouTube to learn how to make such handicraft things. Now I had enlarged my business by doing direct delivery to fancy shops. Marriage function special ornaments orders have started coming. Now I don't have enough time for doing my business. I purchase materials such as decoration balls, Stud pins, threads, and ornaments from town hall road, Madurai for making eight pairs of thread worth of Rs.100. I sell each product at Rs.30 to 40. I also started doing tailoring works. Now I am able to stitch jackets and chudithar well. In Madurai symposium, I had putup a stall for sale of those things.

Future Goals

In my childhood, I have interest on making handicrafts but no one helped me to hone my skills. But my Kalanjiam unleashed my talents and helped me to earn out of my skills. I now attend all training programs conducted by Kalanjiam. Recently I attended fabric painting training. Now I am planning to do works in fabric paintings. Now I strongly believe that skills do pay to lead an honourable living. My future goal is to enlarge my business and sell my products online with help of our Kalanjiam through loan facilities. Also, I wish to provide good education to my daughter and give her a better future.

Education Stories

Positive Change for Better Living

Rajalakshmi is a member in SigappuRoja Kalanjiam in PoonathamalliNagar cluster of Sellur Vattara Kalanjiam. She is a Tailor and has her unit at home. Her husband works in a foot mat production unit. They had one daughter and a son.Santhi the health associate approached her for promoting an Adolescent Girls Group(AGG) and enroll her daughter deepa in the group.

Ensuring Primary Education

“I want to became a teacher “ says Ms.Harita. She is a member of Ten roses adolescent girls group member at Poonthamallinagar cluster in Sellur Vattara Kalanjiam. Her mother name is Mrs. Kavitha, her mother is a housewife and a member of Senpagapoo Kalanjiam in the same cluster . Her father is a construction worker. She is a twin; she and her sister Jothy are studying 5 th std. She has one elder brother studying 9 th std.

Building Confidence among Adolescent Girls

I am Narmatha studying 9th standard at Kolimeddu village. I am a member of the Vigneswarar adolescent girl's group and I used to participate in the meeting without fail. My father is a daily labourer. I had three siblings and my family is always in financial crisis. In 9th of every month Kalanjiam health staff come to conduct meetings for adolescent girls in our area. In the group, they discussed Hb level, the importance of vegetables, spinach, fruits and hygiene. At the end of the meeting, I said about my problem of having irregular periods in long intervals.

follow us on :