Penned By Board Member, Ms. Alo Pal
-19?
—Yes madam, love marriage, then three children by the time I was 24. During those years, I couldn’t do any work. The children all attended government school and college.
-How did the idea of starting a business come to you?
—I needed to add to the family income, so I started a business selling garments, sarees, and dress material on my own. I used to go to Chidambaram and Chennai to purchase items in bulk at wholesale rates and sell them here to my customers in installments.
-But today your loan is for a power tailoring machine?
—Yes. With COVID, my business came to an abrupt halt. I knew I had to do something different. My daughter was enrolled in Sharana’s Digital Lab, and that’s how I came to know about vocational training and their Social Entrepreneurship Program.
-So, what did Sharana do for you?
—Sharana not only sponsored my vocational training at the Vivekananda Institute for a professional stitching course, it also gave me a loan of ₹15,000 for a power tailoring machine.
-Has life changed for you?
—Oh yes, it has. I’m earning more now; I can charge decent amounts for designer blouses, a skill I acquired thanks to the vocational training Sharana sponsored. I’m now a businesswoman with a Shop Establishment license — which Sharana helped me get. I’m looking to expand my business by renting a place on the main road. I know the rent will be higher, but the potential to grow the business is much greater. I don’t want my children to make the same mistake I made.
-What mistake?
—I fell in love, married early, and didn’t think about the harsh realities of life. I had no skill, struggled a lot — but I was determined to put my children through school and college so they could be independent and not suffer like I did. My life circumstances pushed me to try business with garments. When that failed, I was fortunate to receive training and a loan from Sharana. Today, I have the confidence to earn and expand my business.
-Your husband? The man you left everything for at 19 — has he been supportive?
—He used to be very abusive when he drank. One day, I’d had enough and left the house. He went to the police station to lodge a missing person’s complaint, but the police didn’t take him seriously. I’m sure many women leave their homes this way — in desperation and anger. So, my husband went to my father’s house and asked him to file a case of domestic abuse against him! He said only then would the police actively look for me. After that, posters with my picture and “missing person” were pasted all over town. After this incident, when I returned, he became calm.
It may well be true that the more things change, the more they remain the same — but I see every day at Sharana how this adage is slowly shifting. The lot of our women is moving towards more permanent change — with every woman empowered and skilled, and with every child receiving an education.
