Anganwadi sowing machine project

The Anganwadi sowing machine project was one of the first big projects of Dhyeya. After contacting virtually everyone we knew, an aunt informed us of the need for sowing machines amongst women, who were in particular, attempting to become self-sufficient and generate income on their own. We got in touch with one of these women, and the following is the translated transcript of our conversation with her.

Interview with Savitha (an employee at the Jakkur anganwadi)

 

Interviewer: What is the meaning of anganwadi?

Savitha: The children from poor families are sent here to study. They are also provided meals during the day. It is very convenient as the children are taken care of when the parents are at work.

 

Interviewer: What exactly do you do at the anganwadi?

Savitha: We bring the children here for their studies. Once teacher is done with the classes, we give them food and take them back.

 

Interviewer: What are you in need of?

Savitha: We will need sewing machines.

 

Interviewer: How can we fulfil that need?

Savitha: You can provide us some sewing machines. It will be very helpful for us.

 

Interviewer: What will you do with the sewing machine?

Savitha: We will stitch cloth bags and blouses. Since paper is banned, there is a lot of demand for cloth bags.

 

Interviewer: How many women are present in the anganwadi?

Savitha: We are 6 of us who work here including me.

 

Interviewer: How many more women can be employed with the addition of sewing machines?

Savitha: A lot of people will want to come here. I cannot tell you an exact number but am sure a lot of people will want to join us.

 

Interviewer: What is the average income in a month?

Savitha: I earn about Rs.7000-8000 per month.

 

 

Interviewer: By how much will the income increase if you are provided with sewing machines?

Savitha: If I’m the only one who is working, then I will earn more but I will divide the work amongst others equally, so that they can get the same income.

 

Interviewer: Would you prefer an electrical or a manually operated sewing machine?

Savitha: We would prefer an electrically operated sewing machine, as this will make our work easier. The manually operated one will require us to pedal with our leg and that can get tiring. We can also work faster with the electrically operated machines. In the time required to stitch 5 cloth bags in a manually operated machine, we can stitch 10 cloth bags in an electrical sewing machine.

We then raised funds from family members and friends, and were able to buy her a state of the art rowing machine. In our conversations in the following months, we were happy to learn that the people at Anganwaadi were using the machine to make organically sourced cloth bags, and were now selling them for a profit. The following are the pictures from this project: