- A mother of two has been running a makeshift salon at her home in Howrah to pay her children’s school fees. Tapati Banerjee was minor when her parents got her married. She did a course in beauty and wellness but her family refused to let her go on call. After much resistance, she was allowed to open a salon at her home.
- A Class X girl did not want to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a domestic help. Karishma Ravi Das, the student, enroled in a tailoring course. She now earns and continues with her studies.
Tapati and Karishma were among the 11 women who got a grant of Rs 10,000 each on Friday so they could expand their businesses.
While Tapati intends to buy a shampoo station and a mirror, Karishma intends to buy a sewing machine.
The Calcutta chapter of Social Venture Partners (SVP) India, a platform of individuals engaged in philanthropy, recognised women who struggle against odds to make a living.
SVP is made up of 500 individuals, including academics, entrepreneurs, executives and homemakers, who collaborate to support organisations financially. The platform has presence in eight cities in the country.
On Friday, the Calcutta chapter also felicitated women who have emerged as change-makers in their communities. “We try to empower women and create an inclusive society,” said Snigdha Shah, CEO, Social Venture Partners, Kolkata.
“We are transferring the money to the NGO that these women are associated with so the money is used in their businesses, not to meet their daily needs.”
Often women have more pressing needs or are forced to hand over the money to their husbands, said a member of the NGO, Literacy India.
Karishma said she hopes the tailoring machine would make her job easier.
“Right now I have to go to the centre where I trained to do the stitching work because I have no machine. If I have a machine at home, I will be able to take more orders,” said the 18-year-old.
“I pay my tuition fees with the money that I earn from stitching. At times I also pay the tuition fees of my brothers and sisters,” she said.
Tapati feels that women can surmount any odds if they are determined.
“Initially, I faced resistance from my family. But now they have come around to my way of thinking and are supporting me. I intend to expand my business. Once I do that, my family members will benefit from it,” she said.
“There are many girls who come to us for training because they want to improve their condition. There are many who are forced to drop out. At times we convince the family members to let the girls continue with their training, at times we fail," said Sanghamitra Chanda, project director, Literacy India.