Every Stitch Keeps a Dream Alive

On the day Shiropati paid her children’s school fees from the money she earned through tailoring; she felt a quiet pride she had never experienced before.

For many families, paying school fees may be a routine responsibility. But for Shiropati, a 30 year old mother of two from Loshangi village in Surguja district, it was proof that her children’s education no longer had to depend only on uncertain farm work, daily wage labour or borrowed money.

“Earlier, we worried about every household expense and wondered how we would educate our children,” she says. “Now I can contribute to my family’s income with confidence. I want my children to study well and receive the opportunities that I could never have.”

Shiropati now earns between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 every month through her tailoring work. Her income helps meet household needs, purchase books and uniforms on time, access healthcare when required and support her children’s education. Both children are now enrolled in a nearby private school.

Her journey is a reminder that when a family becomes economically stronger, children have a better chance to learn, grow and realise their potential.

When Every Expense Felt Heavy

Loshangi is a remote tribal village in Surguja district where most families depend on agriculture and daily wage labour. Work is seasonal, wages are irregular and women have few opportunities to earn independently.

Before joining the Khushaal Bachpan programme, Shiropati’s family depended almost entirely on seasonal farming and her husband’s daily wage work. Some months were especially difficult. Food, medicines, school expenses and other basic needs had to be managed with very little money. The family often borrowed from relatives and neighbours to get through the month.

Shiropati wanted to share the responsibility of supporting the family, but she had never received vocational training. Most of her days were spent managing the household and caring for her children. Yet, beneath the routine of daily life was a constant concern that financial hardship could one day disrupt their education.

Her children were studying in a government school because the family could not afford better educational opportunities. Shiropati knew that education was the path that could give them choices beyond the uncertainty that had shaped her own life.

A Chance To Learn

That chance came through Khushaal Bachpan, implemented by Caritas India with the support of Caritas Australia. The programme organised tailoring training in the area to help women develop skills, earn independently and strengthen their families.

During community meetings, Shiropati learned that tailoring could become a source of income from her own village. Though she was hesitant at first, she enrolled in the training with determination.

Under the guidance of tailoring tutor Sunita Ekka, Shiropati learned to operate a sewing machine, take measurements, cut fabric, stitch garments for women and children, finish garments neatly and communicate with customers. She attended the sessions regularly and practised beyond class hours while continuing to manage her household responsibilities.

“When Shiropati joined the training, she was hesitant to even operate a sewing machine,” recalls Sunita Ekka. “But she attended every session with determination, practised beyond class hours and never hesitated to learn from her mistakes. Her commitment convinced me that she would one day become a successful entrepreneur.”

Building Trust, One Order At A Time

After completing the training, Shiropati received support under the Income Generating Activity component of Khushaal Bachpan. This enabled her to begin a small tailoring enterprise in Loshangi.

The first few months were not easy. Few customers came to her because she was new. Some villagers preferred established tailors from nearby markets. There were days when no orders came and no money was earned.

“I wondered whether I had made the right decision,” Shiropati recalls. “But the Khushaal Bachpan team encouraged me not to give up. They told me that every business needs time to grow.”

Shiropati kept working. She focused on quality, delivered garments on time and treated every order as an opportunity to earn trust. Slowly, customers began returning. They recommended her work to others, and orders started coming from Loshangi and nearby villages.

The sewing machine that once felt unfamiliar gradually became the centre of a growing livelihood.

A Stronger Home, A Brighter Childhood

Today, Shiropati’s earnings have brought greater stability to the household. The family is better able to plan expenses, buy learning materials on time and respond to health needs without immediately falling into debt.

The biggest change is visible in the lives of her children. They are attending school regularly and are now enrolled in a nearby private school. For Shiropati, this is not simply an improvement in schooling. It is a reassurance that poverty will not stand in the way of their dreams.

The Khushaal Bachpan programme recognises that children can thrive when the families around them are secure. A child’s education is often affected when household income is weak and parents must choose between food, healthcare, debt and school expenses. By helping women develop skills and establish income generating activities, the programme strengthens families so children can remain in school and grow in safety, dignity and confidence.

Shiropati has also gained a stronger voice at home. She contributes to family decisions, earns respect in the community and has become an example for other women who want to learn a skill and start their own work.

Each time she sits at her sewing machine, Shiropati sees more than cloth waiting to be stitched. She sees her children leaving for school with books in their bags, hopes in their hearts and a future that is becoming more possible with every order she completes.