Report – Bodhgaya Tailoring Center
Sr Kavita from Amar Jyoti
We are running 2 tailoring centers in Bodhgaya. During the year around 50 women and girls are trained in our two centers. Most of them are from Musahar and Dalit community. They are landless and economically very poor. For livelihood men used to work in others field as daily wage labor. In Bihar we can see caste discrimination is there and the Dalit are always exploited. They do not get fair wage for their work. The women are mostly illiterate and few are school dropouts. It’s a common practice in the community to send the women and girls to learn tailoring before marriage.
In our centers we give more attention to the women and girls so they feel free to join our tailoring class. Most of the women joined the course to get certificate so they are regular and punctual for the class. The girls are also do other studies so they are not very regular but they don’t leave the course. The course duration of tailoring in our center is of 1 year and we charge monthly Rs.100 form every woman.
The girls and the women from Musahar community are very poor and they are hardly able to pay any amount. The course is based on both theory and practical. The fee collected from the student is being used for maintenance of the classroom and buying teaching and training materials like thread, measurement tape, scissors and clothes. During the course we give them special classes on health & hygiene and house- keeping.
We also teach them basic etiquettes like how to sit and talk with their elders and younger ones. It’s a common thing for them to use vulgar words during their talk but we made them realize not use those vulgar words as it is not a good practice. To make them more confident we made them to perform in Amar Jyoti School on various occasions like Republic Day, Independence Day, and Teachers Day. They used to perform dance, skit and sing song. These activities boost more self confidence in them. They are taken for a picnic since they never get an opportunity in their family.
We also guide and make arrangements for the school going girls to join Computer class and beautician course. There they are given these courses free of cost. At the end of the course exam is conducted. On the basis of their performance in the exam the certificate is being awarded to the women. After completing the training, the women and the girls start tailoring shop in their own house. They can’t take shop on rent in the market place as they are poor and don’t have enough money. Girls and women with their tailoring work are earning money and they are able to help in the family income.
In our centers we give more attention to the women and girls so they feel free to join our tailoring class. Most of the women joined the course to get certificate so they are regular and punctual for the class. The girls are also do other studies so they are not very regular but they don’t leave the course. The course duration of tailoring in our center is of 1 year and we charge monthly Rs.100 form every woman.
The girls and the women from Musahar community are very poor and they are hardly able to pay any amount. The course is based on both theory and practical. The fee collected from the student is being used for maintenance of the classroom and buying teaching and training materials like thread, measurement tape, scissors and clothes. During the course we give them special classes on health & hygiene and house- keeping.
We also teach them basic etiquettes like how to sit and talk with their elders and younger ones. It’s a common thing for them to use vulgar words during their talk but we made them realize not use those vulgar words as it is not a good practice. To make them more confident we made them to perform in Amar Jyoti School on various occasions like Republic Day, Independence Day, and Teachers Day. They used to perform dance, skit and sing song. These activities boost more self confidence in them. They are taken for a picnic since they never get an opportunity in their family.
We also guide and make arrangements for the school going girls to join Computer class and beautician course. There they are given these courses free of cost. At the end of the course exam is conducted. On the basis of their performance in the exam the certificate is being awarded to the women. After completing the training, the women and the girls start tailoring shop in their own house. They can’t take shop on rent in the market place as they are poor and don’t have enough money. Girls and women with their tailoring work are earning money and they are able to help in the family income.