MSU helps stitch these villagers' dreams

VADODARA: Women in villages around the city are adding a new dimension to their life. They are turning into bread earners from dependants. A community development through polytechnic (CDP) programme that started as an educative initiative has groomed a stream of professional tailors. Impressed by their skills, a city-based industry is all set to give one group bulk orders for stitching company uniforms.
This initiative was started by M S University's polytechnic college one year ago in Chitral, Sevasi, Khanpur and Ankodiya to train women in tailoring. "It was to help women and young girls in villages gain economic independence. After their course, the women in these villages earn at least Rs 200 per day. In fact, on these students demand we also conducted embroidery classes so that they can earn more," said N N Veer, consultant of CDP programme.
For the classes, sewing machines were purchased through sponsors.
"For a brief period, central government had stopped financing CDP projects. We managed to sustain the programme and tailoring course was started with the help of sponsors and donors. Now that the central grants have resumed, this project will be replicated in Koyali, Dabhasa and Undera," said principal of polytechnic college K S Agrawal.
CDP members are also planning to assist the students in buying the sewing machines through bank loan. "We are also going to train them on marketing the garments. A city-based industry near Kalali is in talks with a woman group in Ekalbara for giving them bulk orders for designing and stitching uniforms for their workers. Presently, trials are on and once the samples are approved, the group will get its first corporate order," member of CDP Naresh Shah told TOI.
The students after their course, which is offered free of cost, also take the state government's technical board examination. "All of those who took the exams passed them. We hope the women of these villages will succeed in starting small ventures," said vice-principal of polytechnic college M M Patel and one of the four members of the core team constituted for CDP.