A complicated context for India’s youth
In India, young people – especially those living in rural areas – face numerous obstacles in gaining access to decent employment, which severely limits their future prospects.
There are a number of reasons why they are unable to reach their full potential: limited access to higher education, difficulty entering the job market, and the persistent need to migrate to the cities to find work.
This precarious situation disproportionately impacts women. In rural India, the combination of low participation in the formal labor market with restrictive social norms severely hampers women’s independence.
According to the World Bank, women’s participation in the Indian labor market has fallen from 33.7% in 1991 to 27% in 2021.
For a sustainable, long-term solution
In this context, the vocational training programs offered by Karuna-Shechen offer an alternative as well as real tools for transformation. Combining practical skills and earning potential, these training courses offer individuals the opportunity to take control of their lives, and participate in that of their community.
Launched in 2014, the Karuna-Shechen courses offers over 1,000 women in embroidery, sewing, and environmentally-friendly craft practices, providing them with a platform for prosperity.
Initially organized in the Bihar region, training was extended to Jharkhand in 2020.
Combining training and income right from the start
Unlike conventional programs, where women pursue their training and then put it into practice at a later stage, our professional training project sets itself apart by involving students in income-generating activities from the very beginning.
The “Earning by learning” approach enables them not only to put their learning into practice immediately, but also to start providing for themselves in a concrete way, thus reinforcing their autonomy over the long term.
In this article, these students take the floor to talk about the contribution that professional training has made to their lives.
First steps into entrepreneurship
Jaya Rani Pal is 28 years old. Originally from the village of Pawru in Jharkhand, she tells of her beginnings in sewing : “ I joined the tailoring and handicraft classes in 2021, with the dream to become financially independent. Our trainer, Gayatri Ma’am’s guidance was life changing for me. With her help I quickly learned stitching. Now, I run a small business of my own where I earn 500-100 rupees per month from tailoring and embroidery work. I also take orders from customers living in surrounding areas like Hata and Haludpukur.”
I feel both happy and proud. My dream is to open a boutique some day, where my creatively designed clothes will be sold.
Jaya Rani Pal
Saraswathi Pal is 35 years old. Also from Jharkhand, she trained as a craftswoman at our vocational center. She now runs a small home-based sewing business, earning between 1,500 and 2,000 rupees a month, which enables her to pay for her children’s meals and buy the things she likes and needs. With a supportive husband and family she dreams of expanding her venture.
My husband loves my work and encourages me to pursue my wish of opening a full-fledged shop one day. Both of us are saving up for this.
Sarawathi Pal
Sewing and menstrual hygiene: a synergy at the service of women
Kumkum lives in the Bihar region. After her marriage, she was determined to find a way to support herself and make a significant contribution to her family. She enrolled in our sewing class, where her dedication and focus were noticed early on. Recognizing her potential, her teacher encouraged her to start sewing sanitary pads , as part of our menstrual hygiene program, which is aimed at providing sustainable and dignified solutions for women’s health.
I embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly. I even purchased a sewing machine of my own, committing to turning my skills into a livelihood. I earn around 10 rupees for each pad I produce.
Kumkum
Her work enables her not only to earn a living, but also to be of service to other women and girls in her community, meeting a concrete need with dignity.
The testimonies of these women reflect more than just individual successes, they demonstrate a collective impact made possible when communities are supported with listening and caring.
By giving women access to training that combines theoretical learning, practical experience and income generation, Karuna-Shechen restores their ability to act with autonomy and dignity.
Karuna-Shechen’s approach demonstrates that genuine, sustainable development does not necessarily depend on large-scale actions: it can be born of small opportunities.
I support Indian women’s emancipation
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