Community Skill School - Success Stories
The Value of Upskilling - For Jobs and Higher Income: A Power loom Story
Village: Thondamandalam
Block: Omalur
District: Salem
Initial Years
I am Tamilarasan and I lived with my family in Thondamandalam village, Omalur block, Salem. My parents were agricultural labourers for many years. My family owns a loom, but initially I had no money to install the loom and run it. Then I mortgaged my mother’s jewellery, got the money, installed the loom and ran it. But I often suffered because there were no people to repair the loom and the cost of repairs were high. So I thought it would be easier if I could learn this job myself. I approached others to learn repair technology. But, no one was willing to teach me.
Training and Project Support
In March 2022, I heard about a 30-day vocational training on power loom installation and repair through the Vazhndhu Kattuvom Project. I immediately registered my name to participate in the training.
Power loom generators are widespread in Salem. So, I had a lot of career opportunities. But the generators in our village were run by women and youth. If we could repair the turbines ourselves, we could reduce costs and keep our work going smoothly. For this, I trained myself to become as an instructor through the Community Skill School. After that I took up loom repair training. I was trained in the under-loom machine. The training included topics on how to install and repair a loom and how to make a saree on a loom. I studied this thoroughly.
Better Job Opportunities and Better Income
I went to nearby areas, carried out repairs and earned more than Rs. 15,000 rupees from repairing one loom.
It was inspiring to me. ITI and diploma students are reluctant to do exactly what I did. I will repair the turbines faster now, and more efficiently!
I always felt bad because I could not complete my education, as I had to quit school to help my family financially. But now, I am progressing in my career honestly and with skills. I am extremely grateful to VKP, which provided me with vocational training and gave me employment and a steady income.
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Village: Thataingarpatti
Block: Puduchatram
District: Namakkal
Pursuing Tailoring as a Hobby
I am Ms. Vennilla, a 26-year-old engineering graduate. However, after I completed my degree, my parents were reluctant to let my go outside for work. So I stayed at home. My family possessed a tailoring machine, so I thought I could do tailoring at home. I started stitching salwar kurta, blouse, kids’ clothes and other items, mainly for people in my own neighbourhood.
Seeing a Business Opportunity
In one instance, during the wedding season, I got enquiries as to whether I could stitch designer blouses. I didn’t know embroidery work. I had heard about a training program in Nammakkal. For this training, I would have to travel for 1.5 hours every day and also pay a fee of nearly Rs.7000, which did not include the cost of materials. So, I was forced to drop that option.
Training and Project Support
However, 6 months later, a similar training program came to my own block, 6 kms from my village. In this training, I learnt many types of designs, different types of stitches, with beads, etc. The blouse embroidery and materials were all given by the district team. Only the registration fee of Rs. 500 I had to pay on my own. During my training, I had to stitch VKP logo to test my knowledge in tailoring. I was able to do this successfully. And apart from this, I also made other small designs and motifs.
Way Forward
Now that I am skilled, I wanted to join an Enterprise Group and stitch embroidered and designer blouses, which cost a minimum of Rs 1000–1200 per piece in my village and in the town will go up to Rs. 2000 also. Now, I can continue to work from home while earning a premium from stitching designer blouses.
A New Lease of Life for Tribal Women with This Eco-Friendly Business
Panchayat – Keelavadagarai
Block – Periyakulam
District – Theni
No of members in the group – 11 (10 female, 1 male)
Date of formation: 8/12/2021
Background and Training
During VKP field visit to Keelavadagarai panchayat, the team assessed if any welfare measures can be created for the tribal people in the area. At the team interaction with the village members we informed theteam that the habitat members had undergone Sarvodeep training at Jayaraj Anapackiam College, Thamaraikulam. During the training we had learnt the process of making agarbatis and how to use machinery used for manufacturing agarbatis.
We also learnt techniques which help to preserve the products for much longer. We also learnt the finer aspects of making agarbathis, particularly in providing the finishing touches to our products. This we have found to be very useful for giving value to the finished goods.
Formation of EG
VKP team explained the process of creating an enterprise group to us and we actively showed interest in the initiative. We 11 members assembled and formed enterprise group. A start up fund of Rs. 75,000 startup fund was given to us, with which we procured agarbati making machine (cutting, sealing) and raw materials required for making agarbatis. Thus we increased the overall quality of the final product.