While the world is all set to celebrate International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’, as an encouraging display of women empowerment and community inclusion, the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) Team of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar has initiated a Tailoring Training Initiative for the women of the Institute’s adopted villages. The initiative was launched on March 1, 2024, in Kansapada and Podapada villages. 

The initiative led by Dr. Seema Bahinipati (Coordinator-UBA, IIT Bhubaneswar), Dr. Madhusmita Dash (Faculty Theme Leader of Self Reliance) and Smt. Joyasree Mahanti (Founder of Amara Biswas) aims to empower women with valuable tailoring skills under the guidance of a local trainer from Kansapada village at the tailoring centre named Binayak Tailoring Centre. As many as 16 enthusiastic female students gathered at Kansapada Primary School, where UBA provided five sewing machines and essential accessories. Dr. Rajakumar Guduru (Faculty Theme Leader of Digital Awareness), ward member Kansapada village and village residents of Kansapada and Podapada villages were also present during the inauguration. Following the launch and registration, the six-month-long tailoring training classes commenced from March 4, 2024. 

Speaking on the initiative, Dr Seema Bahinipati expressed that the rural women have now embarked on a voyage of learning to become self-reliant with assistance from the ‘Self-Reliance and Digital Awareness’ team of UBA-IIT Bhubaneswar. “With every stitch, the Tailoring Initiative in Kansapada village promises hope and empowerment, creating a brighter future for its women,” she added.

Smt. Joyasree (Ranu) Mohanti said: “Our organization ‘Aamara Biswas’ is immensely content to be a part of the initiative taken up by the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan of IIT Bhubaneswar. This initiative is an example of a higher education institution to be responsible towards the welfare of its community.” It may be mentioned that Aamara Biswas was launched in the year 2007 to implement the Nano Finance concept in urban areas and villages of the state of Odisha, India.

Apart from imparting practical skills, the initiative seeks to foster a sense of community and self-reliance among women participants in the village. Ms. Kabita Nayak, one of the participants of the training programme has mentioned: “For us, this initiative is an opportunity for economic independence and personal growth.”