Parveen Kaur - (Jalan, SANGRUR)
Women Empowerment InitiativeParveen Kaur 20 years old, is a school dropout lives with her widow mother, three elder brothers and their kids in Jalan village. Her brothers run shop of iron products and earn around 5000-6000 per month. Her family doesn’t have any land and the only source of income was her brother’s shop. When Umeed had opened stitching centres in Jalan village, she decided to join it so that she can learn the skill and earn something out of it.

After completing the course, she started working and got orders from the village itself. She started with sewing kids wears and suits but now she does all kind of work ranging form embroidery, painting on bed sheets/pillow cover, addha work, etc. and earn Rs. 3000-4000 per month. Her mother is very happy and proud of her as she has taken the initiative and today contributes to family income.

In Her own word...
I was very fond of learning cutting & tailoring but could not learn it as there was no such centre available in my village and my family was not ready to send me far away for learning the skill. When I heard about the centre I joined it and completed six months course in cutting/tailoring & embroidery.

After completing the course, I wanted to start sewing work, but could not start it as I did not have sewing machine. I have borrowed machine for sometime from someone in the village to start the work. Initially I could not get any work as nobody was aware and confident about my work. For few days, I have made samples only and showed to people, which they liked and started giving me orders.

After few days, I bought my own machine on installments as I had earned some amount. Initially I was only able to make Rs. 500-1000 per month but now I earn between Rs. 3000-4000 per month. Our trainer helped me lot in setting up my work, she gifted me electrical lamp so that I can work in the night also as earlier it was very difficult to work in the night. My mother is very happy and my brothers also keep appreciating me for my efforts as I have increased the income of my family.

I am very thankful to Mr. Arvind Khanna for opening stitching centre in our village as most of girls like me always want to learn these skills but could not learn it due to non availability of centres in villages. He has been doing good job and helping us to be self-dependent and empowered.

Surjeet Kaur, wife of Harbhajan Singh
Surjeet Kaur, wife of Harbhajan Singh, aged 53 from village Wazid Ke Kalan is a Self Help Group member. She learnt the skill of bag making in a training organized by Umeed. She is now operating from her place, where she also stitches clothes of villagers.

Her work is greatly appreciated by them. She is earning approximately Rs. 3000/- per month. She also benefited from the dairy and the house loan scheme. She is very thankful to Umeed for the welfare work which is being carried out by them.

Kuldeep Kaur, wife of S.GURDEV Singh
Kuldeep Kaur, wife of S.Gurdev Singh, aged 35 from village Tungan is a Self help group member. She learnt the skill of bag making in a training organized by Umeed. Later she also learnt stitching from Umeed’s stitching centre. Initially, she started making bags at her place, which she sold to the villagers.

Presently she is working as an instructor for the Red Cross society in village Kular Khurd. She is getting a salary of 1800/- besides that she is also earning by stitching clothes of villagers and bag making. She got a loan of Rs. 5000/- from her Self Help Group for installation of a hand pump in her house. Kuldeep is very thankful to Umeed for its work.

Geeta Devi, wife of Raj Kumar
Geeta, wife of.Raj Kumar, aged 36 resident of village Fatehgarh Bhadson is a beneficiary of a dairy training. and a house loan. She is earning approximately Rs. 6000/- per month by selling milk to the local dairy. At present she has four buffaloes and is planning to buy more in sometime.

Geeta also benefitted from the Loan scheme wherein she got a loan of Rs. 70000/- for construction of a house. She is very thankful and always says that her life would not habeen same if she had not been supported by Umeed.

Hardeep Kaur, wife of Surjeet Singh
Hardeep Kaur, wife of Surjeet Singh, aged 33 from village Kale Ke is a knitting expert. Umeed introduced her to a local supplier who gives wool for making cardigans.

Hardeep not only knits and makes sets herself but also gives some orders to the village ladies. She earns Rs. 1200 -1500/- per month. She is very thankful to Umeed for helping her to be financially independent by introducing her to a supplier..

Geeta also benefitted from the Loan scheme wherein she got a loan of Rs. 70000/- for construction of a house. She is very thankful and always says that her life would not habeen same if she had not been supported by Umeed.