Kalpana Vocational Training Centre

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“KALPANA PROJECT’ was inaugurated on the 8th of March 2021in Village Chikhali, near Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.

 

The initiative was an expressed need of the Gram Panchayat to provide women of Chikhali with a means of livelihood to support the family income with minimal disruption in their daily roles and responsibilities. The centre has been established to provide tailoring training to the wives and daughters of the farmers. Its aim is to provide skill-based empowerment to women and a secondary source to supplement  the uncertainties of farm based  income. 

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The venue was to be provided by the Panchayat (local self-government) at a local community centre, and was eventually decided to be at the Gram Panchayat Activity Centre. 

 

Ms Madhavi Zende was appointed by L K Jha Foundation as a trainer for the course. The course duration is 3 months with classes held thrice a week for two hours per day. As for now, three batches have completed the 3-month duration basic tailoring course, with a fourth batch underway.

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At the end of three months the participants learned to stitch

 - Face masks

 - Princess cut saree blouse

 - Three-piece princess cut saree blouse

 - Saree petticoat

 - Salwar kameez

 - Baby frocks

 

The project was expected to start with 10 to 15 women and expected to increase upto 50

women after the harvest season. As of now, 37 women have completed the course

from 3 batches, with 9 women in the 4th batch.

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Note: There had been disruptions in classes due to COVID lockdowns (May to July 2021) and repair work on the roof of the centre (August 2022)

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The following materials were purchased: 

 - 5 Foot operated sewing machines of which one was a specialized machine and four would be basic models 

 - All sewing supplies

 - Cloth material

 - Stools and 1 table

 - Cupboard for storage

 - White/black board with chalk/pens for demonstration

 - 4 basic foot operated sewing machine for trainees

 - Sewing supplies like threads, measuring tapes, scissors, needles etc

 - Cloth for practicing and stitching

 - 1 table and 5 stools for trainer and trainees

 - White/black board with chalk/pens for demonstration

 - Honorarium for trainer to be supported for 12 months after initiation of project

 - The trainer’s honorarium has been supported for 12 months

 

Feedback regarding the ‘KALPANA project’

 

Trainer’s response

The trainer was happy that she had an opportunity to share her skills and help the women of her village to learn something new. She stated that the women were thankful about receiving such excellent training, totally free of cost in their village.

 

Participants’ response

The participants gave a very enthusiastic response to the training.

“I didn’t even know what a sewing machine looks like and now I can sew my very own garments!”

 

Community’s response

The husbands and families were supportive of the initiative. The husbands appreciated the contribution their wives could make to the family income; either by saving on clothes and even understanding the true value of ready-made clothes.

 

Sarpanch’s response

The Sarpanch was happy that the initiative was supporting her aim of empowering women to respond not only to a crisis situation but also to be independent and learn to self-sustain.

 

The LK Jha Foundation team’s reflections

The team noted an increase in the women’s self-confidence. The women felt visible and valued as such initiative was taken for their upliftment in a remote place like Chikhali. They were elated to be viewed

as an asset!

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The L.K Jha Foundation team recognises immense potential in Chikhali and identifies ample scopes of rural sustainable development. As per agreement, twelve months after initiation, the utilisation was to be reviewed and taken further with adaptation as required.

 

Future Plans? Proposed plans?

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The Foundation is exploring ways of collaborating with organizations to help women market and sell their stitched products.

 

It is also decided that the centre can be kept open after or before classes so that women who do not have access to a sewing machine at home can come and stitch their clothes.

 

It is proposed that the beneficiaries who use the sewing machine other than class hours would be asked to pay a nominal fee. The fees would be used for the maintenance of equipment and buying supplies whenever necessary