Indian villager starts own weaving business and hires women financially affected by COVID-19
- 4 years ago
A villager in Odisha, eastern India, has started her own weaving business and is employing women financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Usha Rani Naik has employed around 150 women in her business that creates such as baskets, vases and photo frames from sabai grass.
Naik is employing women from her home village as well as the nearby one, Guhaldihi, meaning unemployment in the local area is being reduced.
Naik said: "Every time life tries to bring me down and says that I cannot do something, it makes me more determined to follow through. People do so many things without permission, so why should I need someone’s consent to find my independence and follow my dreams?”
"I am a primary school dropout supports a family of four. I moved to Gujaldihi after getting married at 22. People would mock me about that, but the delay was because I did not want my father to bear all the expense of a marriage.
"Instead, I took a loan and shared the burden. I was hoping that things would change after getting married and coming to this new home. But, I was wrong, as the financial problems followed me."
Footage from August 14 shows the employees weaving various products from the grass.
Usha Rani Naik has employed around 150 women in her business that creates such as baskets, vases and photo frames from sabai grass.
Naik is employing women from her home village as well as the nearby one, Guhaldihi, meaning unemployment in the local area is being reduced.
Naik said: "Every time life tries to bring me down and says that I cannot do something, it makes me more determined to follow through. People do so many things without permission, so why should I need someone’s consent to find my independence and follow my dreams?”
"I am a primary school dropout supports a family of four. I moved to Gujaldihi after getting married at 22. People would mock me about that, but the delay was because I did not want my father to bear all the expense of a marriage.
"Instead, I took a loan and shared the burden. I was hoping that things would change after getting married and coming to this new home. But, I was wrong, as the financial problems followed me."
Footage from August 14 shows the employees weaving various products from the grass.