Raziya Sultana (26), hails from Uttar Pradesh, was deprived of education as a result of acute poverty and was married in a very young age.She moved to Delhi where her husband and family lived. Later she became a mother of two but was constantly stigmatized by her in-laws for giving birth to girl children. Gradually she had to face different kind of abuses by her carpenter- husband and in-laws, which sometimes went to the extremity of not giving her any food for many days. Eventually she along with children, moved back to her parent’s place but they refused to keep her due to their incapability to feed additional 3 members. Returning to Delhi, she took the decision to live on her own, but having no educational background, she was unable to find any job.She was identified by a community worker of URIDA and was enrolled for Non-formal education. She was also given training in garmenting in URIDA and all other assistance needed to her and children. She is now employed in a garment factory and earns Rs.8000/-a month. Her wish is to educate her children as much as they want and make them stand on their own feet, in future.

Salma (45) is a house wife and her husband is a street food vendor who sells food in a rickshaw. Earlier, there were many situations that her family had to approach private money lenders who charged huge interest and demanded pledge of gold or silver or property. Increasing family liabilities made them unable to deposit even the interest, many times. It sometimes called for penal interests also. Hence they always remained in the circle of increasing needs as well as debts. This was not the story of her family only, but also many of her neighbors. URIDA’s SHG mobilizer during an awareness session for group formation in her neighborhood identified Salma and motivated her to become a member of Self Help Group. She started contributing her share and the group’s savings account was also opened in Bank of India. Gradually, the SHG started inter loaning as per the need and requirement of individual members, which reduced their dependence on outside money lenders. She never had any hesitation on acquiring loan from the SHG as it was her own money and it was her right to get it in time of an emergency. Salma, now has started her own small business of Tiffin and food service using the savings and loans she raised Through the group and earns Rs.8000/--10000/- a month.

I belong to a lower-class family of 5 members. We live in a rented house and I am the eldest of all siblings. My father, who is a vegetable vendor, was the only earning member in my family. Due to acute financial Crisis, I was not able to continue with my education after finishing 10th class. I always wanted to support my father financially but I was not qualified enough to get a job with decent Salary. As my job search was on, I attended a meeting conducted by a mobilizer of URIDA near to my house. She explained about the 6 months free vocational training programme in dress making and in that meeting itself I got myself enrolled. After completing the course successfully, I managed to buy a sewing machine and started stitching clothes for myself and others in my family. Now I have started a boutique at home and engage myself full time for work. I make a minimum of Rs.4000/- a month which is a big relief for my family. In future, I would like to enroll for advanced trainings in URIDA and get a job in manufacturing industries. I have no words to express my gratitude to the workers of URIDA for directing me through the right path.