Nutan Tailoring Centre
Too often, Dalit women in India lack the means to support themselves. Their educational status is significantly worse compared to Dalit males¹. Over half of them are illiterate and are uninformed on their rights, and the health risks posed by their living conditions and work². Unfortunately, Dalit women are often targeted by men of higher castes, as they are perceived as being especially inferior³.
We wanted to provide educational opportunities for them too.
So in addition to opening our school, we set up a tailoring education centre in 2004. Mrs Sundera Daniel, a CRHD India trustee and well-experienced seamstress, was selected to spearhead the program, with a few well-qualified assistants being hired too. At first, the tailoring centre was based in Mrs Daniel’s own home, with students making use of treadle machines, and a programmable embroidery machine. Thanks to fundraising, we were soon able to rent premises on the outskirts of Raichur city. Support from our donors continued, allowing us to open a second tailoring centre near the centre of Raichur in 2011*.
Mrs Daniel and the current Tailoring Centre students.
A nominal fee is charged to enrol at the centre. Initially, the centre offered classes in basic and advanced sewing, pattern design and umbrella making, and hand/machine embroidery. Adult literacy classes were soon implemented into the program, and since 2011, a healthcare worker has joined the staff to educate the students on topics concerning sexual health and welfare. Unfortunately, discussion of these issues is still a rarity in India.
To view our health awareness programme, please click here.
Upon completion of the course, all women gain accredited tailoring diplomas, recognised by the state of Karnataka. This qualifies some students for a government incentive, in which they receive their own sewing machines, for a small fee. Over 2000 women have completed the courses offered, and have taken various paths in life since leaving the centre. Some tailoring centre alumni have continued to hone their craft, selling their skills to pay for their children’s schooling. Some have opened their own businesses, such as clothing stores/stalls and beauty parlours, and are independent in their own right.
"Running the centre has been a fruitful and rewarding experience. We share the good news of Jesus with all who come through our doors. Our cohort of students has grown since we opened in 2004 - we enjoy learning about each other and different tailoring methods. The adult literacy classes have been a huge incentive for many prospective students, and has bolstered our reputation. Across our centres, we have managed to equip so many women with tailoring skills, giving them a means to support their families”.
- Mrs Daniel, head of Nutan Tailoring Centre
