A Stitch In Time!

Transforming Women’s Economic Futures in Nuh and Haridwar

Produced by: American India Foundation (AIF)
01
02
 04 Impact in Action
06 Silent Threads, Loud Dreams - Neha Kumari
08 A Needle, A Thread, A New Beginning—Watch Firdos Create Her Paradise
10 Threads of Triumph - Abida
12 Sewing New Futures - Babita Rani
14 Weaving Hope: A Mother’s Pursuit of Financial Freedom – Aasmeena
CONTENT 16 From The Walls Built Around Her—To The Future She Built Beyond Them – Jabunisha
18 A Leap Beyond Her Own Freedom - Weaving Opportunities For Others - Ruksina
20 Learner Once, Leader Now! Presenting The New Role Model Of Uton Village – Shahjahan
22 The Opportunity Wasn’t Miles Away - It Was Right Where She Stood — Shokina
24 Walking Miles to Weaving Dreams — Shruti
26 Our Allies

03
 Across India, the economic potential of women remains one of the
most underutilized yet transformative forces for national progress. In
districts like Nuh and Haridwar, where deep-rooted social norms,
economic hardships, and mobility restrictions have long held women
back from formal employment, this reality is even starker. Here, the
choice to earn a livelihood is not just an economic decision but a
quiet act of defiance against long-standing barriers.

Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, the American India

Foundation (AIF), in partnership with the National Backward Classes
Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and the Indian
Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), launched the Skill Development
Training Program—a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower
500 women with the skills, confidence, and market access needed to
forge their economic destinies.

IMPACT IN ACTION At the heart of this initiative lies AIF’s Market Aligned Skills Training
(MAST) Program, which bridges India’s stark gender gap in workforce
participation. With Nuh and Haridwar identified as high-need regions,
AIF’s community mobilization efforts ensured that families, local
leaders, and stakeholders became champions of women’s
participation. 700 women responded, and over 70% enrolled in the
self-employment tailoring program, each enrollment a silent but
powerful reclamation of their agency.

To ensure lasting impact, AIF, with support from NBCFDC and IRFC,
established 10 Training-cum-Production Centres (TPCs) within these
communities, promoting social mobility and economic independence.
Built on the proven ‘Earn While Learn’ model, the program offers
hands-on garment construction training, aligned with the National
Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), using industrial electric
machines to meet evolving market demands. This dual approach not
only fosters technical expertise but also guarantees an income during
04
training, building immediate financial resilience. Yet, skills alone are not Their journeys are woven with determination, courage, and the pursuit
enough. Financial literacy is a cornerstone of true empowerment. of economic independence, proving that when opportunity meets
Through targeted training, women learned to budget, track expenses, perseverance, transformation is inevitable. Through their voices, this
and manage finances effectively, while workshops on mobile banking, book shines a light on the power of skill, support, and self-belief in
UPI transactions, and cashless payments introduced them to the digital breaking barriers and building brighter futures.
economy. Market linkages further ensured that participants gained
real-world exposure to industry demands, equipping them with
confidence to enter competitive supply chains.

Strategic partnerships played a key role in sustainability. AIF

collaborated with eight garment manufacturers and traders, securing
work orders worth INR 22,52,580 across all TPCs. Women actively
managed orders, oversaw quality control, and handled packaging—
developing not just skills but also a sense of enterprise and ownership.

To further integrate technology into entrepreneurship, AIF partnered

with Pea Body Soft Pvt. Ltd., introducing participants to the ‘Mera Bill’
app—a tool designed to streamline business operations. From
bookkeeping and invoice generation to creating personalized business
catalogs, women gained crucial digital competencies, improving
financial transparency and structuring their ventures for long-term
growth.

Measuring impact is critical, and the partnership ensured rigorous

assessment through external evaluations. Across theoretical, practical,
Digital Business
and viva voce components, every one of the 500 women successfully Management
passed, achieving an 80% average success rate—a testament to the Market Financial
Linkages Literacy
program’s effectiveness in fostering entrepreneurial success and
economic independence.

Certified Training in
Beyond statistics, the true measure of success is seen in the lives National Skills
Economic
transformed. In the following pages, you will meet ten remarkable Qualifications
Framework - aligned Empowerment
women—each with a story of struggle, resilience, and triumph. Curriculum

05
 In the quiet village of Jhiriyan Grunt, Uttarakhand, the rhythmic hum of
a sewing machine fills the air. For Neha, this sound speaks louder than
words. At just 19 years old, she has defied the odds to become a

SILENT THREADS, skilled tailor, a businesswoman, and a financial pillar for her family,
earning ₹5,000 a month.

LOUD DREAMS Born with a hearing and speech impairment, Neha's challenges were
compounded by Haridwar's stark realities. Known for its spiritual
significance, the district also grapples with limited workforce
participation, market access, and financial independence for women.
Despite its growing industrial landscape, opportunities—especially for
women with disabilities—remain scarce, keeping many trapped in
cycles of dependency.

But Neha's mother never let their circumstances define her daughter's
future. She knew that beyond the barriers of disability, poverty, and
gender lay a world of possibility—if only the right opportunity arrived.
That moment came when the American India Foundation (AIF), in
partnership with NBCFDC and IRFC, launched its Self-Employment
Tailoring Training Program in Haridwar.

Before this, Neha had never even held a needle. Yet, from the moment
she stepped into AIF's Training cum Production Center, she poured her
heart into learning. Her trainers, communicating in sign language,
guided her through fabric measurement, drafting, cutting, and
mastering the Juki industrial sewing machine. With every stitch, her
confidence grew, her world expanded, and her dreams took shape.

The program's Earn While You Learn model meant that even as she
trained, she began earning—turning effort into empowerment. Within a
month, she had mastered industrial electric machines and was
producing school uniforms and industry-grade garments. But, the real
game-changer? Training on a fintech platform that helped Neha price
06
her work, track transactions, manage customers, and take control of her earnings.

She didn't just gain skills—she became an entrepreneur. The program equipped her with business acumen—catalog development, pricing strategies,
customer management, and digital payments—turning her from a tailor into a thriving businesswoman.

At home, her younger siblings proudly wear the clothes she stitches, and her mother watches with quiet joy—knowing that her daughter has not just
found her voice, but her freedom and purpose.
Neha Kumari
Jhiriyan Grunt Village
Bhagwanpur Block
Haridwar District
Uttarakhand

07
 Firdos grew up in a world where certainty was a luxury and
opportunity was rare. She belongs to Nuh, Haryana - one of
A NEEDLE, A THREAD, A NEW BEGINNING India's most economically and socially disadvantaged districts,

WATCH FIRDOS where women's workforce participation is among the lowest in

the country. Here, deep-rooted social norms keep most
CREATE HER PARADISE women confined to their homes, and those who dare to
dream of financial independence often face limited mobility,
unsafe travel options, and a lack of market access. But
instead of waiting for change, she created it herself. Her name,
meaning "paradise," is no longer something she was given—it is
something she has built. With every piece of fabric she cuts and
every seam she sews, she is shaping a life that once felt
impossible.

At just 21 years old, Firdos carries the weight of an entire family—

five younger siblings, an aging grandmother, and a father battling
alcoholism. With no steady income, their home became a place of
survival rather than growth. India's rural poverty rate stands at
25%, with women disproportionately affected. Forced to drop out
of school to care for her siblings, her future seemed predestined—
another generation trapped in the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.

But Firdos refused to accept that destiny. With no formal

education or job prospects, she thought employment was out of
reach—until she discovered AIF's Training cum Production Center,
run in partnership with NBCFDC. She knew this was her moment.

Enrolling in the industrial sewing machine training program, Firdos

found purpose, empowerment, and financial independence.
Under patient guidance, she mastered intricate designs and
stitching techniques. But the program went beyond technical
training—it equipped her with market knowledge, financial
management skills, and business acumen, helping her manage
customers, and negotiate fair wages. 08
Soon, she gained expertise in sourcing materials cost-effectively, tracking her earnings, and reinvesting in her business. She transformed from a
trainee into a self-reliant entrepreneur. Her biggest breakthrough came when, still in training, she began earning INR 12,000 per month—a life-
changing sum that restored dignity to her household and put her siblings back in school.

Today, Firdos is not just providing for her family; she is breaking generational barriers. In a world where economic empowerment for women can boost
global GDP by $28 trillion, her success is proof that investing in women fuels economic growth, gender equality, and poverty reduction.

Firdos
Nagina Village, Nuh District
Haryana

09
 Abida's journey teaches us that adversities don’t define destinies —
one can rise, rebuild, and redefine the future time and again — Abida
THREADS OF did just that. Meet a proud boutique owner, a budding entrepreneur,
and the face of the young, skilled India!

TRIUMPH! Growing up in the village of Nuh, Abida was acutely aware of her
restricted mobility and gender biases that shaped her world. Yet
within her, a quiet resilience to regain her agency grew! She found her
path to independence through education and completed her class
12th, a feat not achieved by many girls in her village.

But the very social norms that had long held women back soon caught
up with her. At 18, her family pushed her into early marriage, dismissing
her aspirations—an all-too-common reality in rural India, where nearly
one in three women (aged 20-24) is married before turning 18.

Still learning to live her new normal, Abida’s husband tragically passed
away in a road accident, and shortly after, her father, the sole earning
member suffered paralysis. As Abida moved back to her parental
home, she found herself at the crossroads of deepening poverty and
an uncertain future.

Hope arrived one morning at her doorstep when AIF’s mobilization

efforts reached Abida. Yearning for an opportunity, Abida enrolled in
the three-month comprehensive training program to rebuild her life.

From the moment Abida set foot in AIF’s Training cum Production
Center (TPC), run in partnership with NBCFDC and IRFC, she poured
herself wholeheartedly into the training. Guided by skilled TPC
trainers, she mastered industrial electric sewing machines. The training
rooted in the National Skills Qualifications Framework helped her gain
the expertise needed to meet industry demands and large-scale
supply chain requirements.
10
With every stitch, she rebuilt her confidence, and with every pattern she created, she wove a secure future for herself.

India’s path to 8% GDP growth hinges on two key factors: increasing female workforce participation and enhancing labor productivity. Turning this
vision into reality, the program equips women like Abida with market linkages and financial management skills—empowering them not just as skilled
seamstresses, but as future entrepreneurs.

Along with mastering technical skills, Abida learned to budget, track expenses, and manage finances for entrepreneurial success. Training in mobile
banking, UPI transactions, and cashless payments further empowered her to navigate the digital economy with confidence.

Seeing Abida’s progress and precision in fulfilling orders after just a month of training at the TPC, her trainer encouraged her to dream bigger—
opening her own boutique. With AIF’s support, she acquired sewing machines and essential equipment to bring her vision to life. Training in fintech
solutions empowered her to create a personalized catalog and set competitive pricing.

Through AIF’s collaboration with buyers and exposure to industry demands, Abida secured consistent orders, ensuring a steady workflow and long-term
sustainability, earning INR 8,000 per month. Once just another household in the village, her home is now a well-known hub of skill and enterprise,
recognized for Abida’s growing expertise and expanding customer base.
Abida
Housing Board Colony
Nangli Road,
Nuh, Haryana

11
 In the heart of Jaurasi village, nestled between sprawling sugarcane
and golden wheat fields, 27-year-old Babita wakes up each morning
with renewed purpose. Her home, a modest dwelling shared with her
SEWING mother and brother, has long been a place of resilience and strength.

NEW FUTURES But for Babita, the walls of this home also carried the weight of
unfulfilled dreams.

Once married, she had hoped for a future filled with stability, but
hardship followed her into the marriage. When it ended in divorce, she
found herself back in her family home, grappling with an
overwhelming sense of being a burden. Financial independence
wasn’t just a desire—it was a necessity.

Though she had basic stitching skills, Babita lacked the opportunities
and knowledge to turn them into a steady income. The turning point
came when a friend told her about AIF’s Training cum Production
Center (TPC), a place where women like her could hone their skills and
build pathways to self-reliance. At that moment, Babita saw a way out
— for herself and her family.

But the path to success was not without its trials. The TPC was located
7 kilometers away, and with no money to afford daily transportation,
reaching the center seemed like another impossible challenge. Yet,
Babita was determined to rewrite her story. Each day, under the
scorching summer sun, she walked the long stretch to the center,
driven by a fierce resolve to change her future.

Her perseverance paid off. Within just a month of training, Babita’s

dedication caught the attention of the trainers, and soon, the center
entrusted her with bulk orders for school and industry uniforms. The
steady flow of income covered her travel expenses and allowed her to
contribute to her household, easing the financial strain on her family.

12
At TPC, Babita’s journey extended far beyond stitching. The training, rooted in the National Skills Qualification Framework, refined her skills in garment
construction while also exposing her to the world of supply chain management. Visits to buyers opened her eyes to quality standards, market linkages,
and the nuances of bulk production. Babita learned to conduct market scans, negotiate with local buyers, and deliver large orders with confidence.

Empowered with knowledge, skills, and a vision for the future, Babita took a bold step—she opened her own boutique in a neighboring village. With
AIF’s support, she secured sewing machines and essential equipment. No longer just a trainee, she became a mentor, training two more women from
her community and giving them the same opportunity that changed her life.

Today, as Babita navigates her way through the fields each morning, she no longer walks the path alone. She is a business owner, an employer, and a
changemaker. Earning nearly 10,000 rupees a month, proving that with the right opportunities, one can stitch together a future of dignity and
independence.

Babita Rani
Jaurasi Village
Taoru Block
Nuh District, Haryana

13
 In the quiet, sunbaked villages of Nuh, Haryana, Aasmeena carries the
weight of a family on her shoulders. With her husband working as a
WEAVING HOPE scrap collector in Gujarat, his irregular remittances barely cover their
A MOTHER’S PURSUIT OF FINANCIAL most basic needs. At home, four young children look to her for

FREEDOM everything—food, care, security—things she often struggles to provide.

There is no fallback, no safety net—just the daily battle to stretch every
rupee.

For years, her world was one of limitations. No stable income of her
own meant no choices, no control, no way out of the endless cycle of
struggle. But one day, everything changed. While going about her
daily routine, she came across an AIF community mobilization drive in
her village. The conversations she had that day sparked something
new—the possibility of a different future.

She enrolled in AIF’s Self-Employed Tailor Training Program, a three-

month intensive course designed to equip women with industry-
relevant skills and financial literacy. She had never worked with a
sewing machine before, but under the guidance of trainers, she
mastered fabric measurement, garment construction, and precision
stitching techniques. The training wasn’t just about tailoring—it was
about meeting real-world market demands and aligning her skills with
industry standards so that her work would always be in demand.

But the biggest shift came beyond the sewing machine. The program
introduced Aasmeena to financial literacy, a concept once foreign to
her. She learned digital transactions, UPI payments, mobile banking,
bookkeeping, and budgeting—tools that transformed her from a
woman struggling to get by into an entrepreneur managing her own
finances with confidence.

Before she even completed her training, Aasmeena had already

started earning a steady income through orders at the Training and
14
Production Center (TPC). For the first time in her life, she was not just a caregiver, but a provider—an equal force in her family’s survival and future.

Today, she takes on market orders with precision, ensuring quality control and meeting buyer expectations. With every garment she creates, she
stitches together stability, dignity, and hope—not just for herself, but for her children, who now have a mother who can dream, plan, and provide.

Aasmeena
Hameed Colony
Nuh, Haryana

15
 FROM THE WALLS BUILT AROUND HER For 23-year-old Jabunisha, stepping beyond the four walls of her

TO THE FUTURE SHE BUILT BEYOND home was once unthinkable. She grew up in a world where a woman’s
place was dictated by tradition, movement was restricted, and
THEM dreams were often dismissed before they could take shape. Her
parents, though loving, upheld strict boundaries, fearing the judgment
of a community where a woman’s ambition was often mistaken for
rebellion.

Yet, within Jabunisha burned a quiet defiance. She had watched too
many women before her resign to a life of dependency, and she
wanted more. But with no formal education, no exposure to financial
independence, and no permission to even think beyond the household,
her path forward seemed impossible.

Her turning point came when she discovered AIF’s market-linked skills
training program, supported by the National Backward Class Finance
and Development Corporation (NBCFDC). The opportunity came with
its own battles—convincing her parents to let her step out, silencing
neighbors who whispered that tailoring was not a respectable pursuit,
and overcoming the gnawing self-doubt that years of restrictions had
instilled in her.

The first time she picked up a needle, she did so hesitantly. As she
learned garment construction, precision tailoring, and market-driven
design, something shifted—her hands weren’t just sewing fabric, they
were weaving a future she never thought she’d own.

Beyond technical skills, Jabunisha mastered financial management

tools like the Mera Bill App, learning to track expenses, categorize
income, and generate itemized bills—critical skills that elevate her
business.

Today, Jabunisha stitches kurta pajamas, trousers, shirts, suits, salwars,

16
and frocks for an ever-growing customer base, earning a steady ₹4,500 per month—a sum that, for her family, means more meals on the table, fewer
financial worries, and a future no longer clouded by uncertainty. Once excluded from financial decisions, she is now an active participant.

But perhaps the greatest validation of her journey came from her own family. The same parents who once hesitated to let her enroll now proudly wear
clothes stitched by their daughter’s hands, a symbol of how far she has come—and how much further she is determined to go.

Jabunisha
Dada Jalalpur Village
Bhagwanpur Block
Haridwar District
Uttarakhand

17
 For Ruksina, survival was a daily battle. In a cramped one-room home,
she lived with her husband, mother-in-law, and five children, struggling
A LEAP BEYOND HER OWN FREEDOM to stretch every rupee. Each day brought the same impossible choices
WEAVING —should she buy food or pay for school fees? Should she keep the

OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS!

house running or prioritize medical needs?

Her husband, once a daily wage laborer, fell into the grip of
alcoholism, draining the family’s already meager resources. With no
savings, no formal education, and no means to earn, Ruksina felt
powerless as her world closed in. She watched in silent despair as her
children’s future began to slip away.

But resignation was never an option. When she heard about a

community mobilization event introducing a self-employment tailoring
course, something inside her stirred. Could this be the opportunity she
had been waiting for?

Her transformation was made possible by the Skill Development

Training Program, launched by the AIF, in collaboration with NBCFDC
and supported by IRFC. Built on the foundation of AIF’s Market Aligned
Skills Training (MAST) Program, this initiative aimed to bridge India’s
stark gender gap in entrepreneurship and workforce participation,
through market, financial and digital linkages.

Despite resistance from her family and a community that believed a

woman’s place was at home, Ruksina made a bold decision—she
enrolled. At first, she struggled—handling fabric felt foreign, and the
sewing machine was intimidating. But with each class, her confidence
grew. She learned not just to stitch but to create garments with
precision, manage customer orders, and set fair prices for her work.

Soon, neighbors began noticing her work. First, it was small

alterations. Then, full salwar suits. Then, orders from local vendors. Her
18
hands, once accustomed to household chores, were now crafting a future she never thought possible.

As her income grew, so did her independence. She was no longer waiting for her husband to contribute—she was the breadwinner now. Her children’s
education continued, uninterrupted, because of her earnings. More importantly, she is now saving to buy a Juki sewing machine, allowing her to
expand her business, increase production, and bring other women along on her journey. What was once an act of desperation is now a legacy in the
making.

Ruksina
Nuh, Haryana

19
 LEARNER ONCE, LEADER NOW! For 44-year-old Shahjahan, life unraveled in an instant. Her husband,
PRESENTING THE NEW ROLE MODEL OF Hasan, once the family's sole provider, suffered a paralytic attack that
UTON VILLAGE left him permanently disabled. The ₹8,000 he once earned
disappeared overnight, and with it, the foundation of their family's
survival. Unpaid school fees mounted, their kitchen shelves emptied,
and the future of her two children hung in uncertainty.

Shahjahan had never worked a day in her life. In her community,

women weren’t expected to earn; they were expected to endure. But
survival had no patience for societal norms. With a disabled husband
and two children depending on her, she had no choice but to become
the provider her family had lost.

“At first, I felt helpless. My husband was always the one who earned,
who made the decisions. Suddenly, it was all on me,” Shahjahan
recalls. “But I couldn’t let my children go hungry. I had to do
something.”

Encouraged by a dear friend, she took her first step toward self-
reliance and enrolled in AIF’s Self-Employment Tailor Training Program,
implemented in partnership with NBCFDC and IRFC. The Training cum
Production Centre (TPC) in her village became her second home—a
place where women like her were not just trained, but empowered to
build independent livelihoods.

Here, she was trained under the National Skills Qualifications

Framework (NSQF) aligned curriculum, learning to stitch shirts,
trousers, T-shirts, suits, and gowns with precision. With each passing
day, she honed her craft, guided by expert trainers who ensured that
the garments met industry standards.

The ‘Earn While Learn’ model played a pivotal role in her journey. While
still in training, she was able to take on small tailoring orders,
20
giving her a head start on her business even before completing the course. Neighbors became her first customers, and before long, word spread
about her meticulous stitching and high-quality craftsmanship.

Beyond tailoring, the program equipped Shahjahan with financial literacy training—a crucial component of long-term success. Using the Mera Bill App,
she learned to track her earnings, manage expenses, and reinvest wisely. For the first time, she wasn’t just earning—she was running a business.

Deeply grateful for the program and its coordinators, who believed in her when she doubted herself, Shahjahan learned that the challenge was not
just learning a skill—it was fighting self-doubt. “This program didn’t just teach me how to sew. It gave me a reason to believe in myself again," she says.
"I will never forget the hands that guided me when I was lost."

Today, as she watches her children leave for school, knowing their future is secure, she no longer sees herself as a woman bound by fate. She is proof
that even in the face of adversity, strength can be found, skills can be learned, and lives can be rebuilt.

Shahjahan
Uton Village, Taoru Block
Mewat District, Haryana

21
 Every night, as Shokina tucks her young daughter into bed, she
whispers promises of a better tomorrow—one where dreams aren’t
THE OPPORTUNITY WASN’T MILES AWAY
sacrificed for survival. But for a long time, that tomorrow felt out of
IT WAS RIGHT WHERE reach. Her two other children lived with her estranged husband, who
SHE STOOD! provided neither financial nor emotional support, and she alone bore
the weight of running a household.

For years, she had weighed the idea of migrating to Punjab, believing
that only a move to a bigger city could open doors to financial
independence. Yet, the thought of leaving her daughter behind filled
her with hesitation. The idea of starting over, without a clear plan, felt
like trading one uncertainty for another. But just as she was preparing
for that difficult leap, the opportunity arrived at her doorstep—an
American India Foundation (AIF) Training cum Production Centre (TPC)
opened in her village. For the first time, she saw a path that allowed
her to earn without abandoning the child who needed her the most.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Shokina enrolled in the program.

She had never worked a sewing machine, but within weeks, she
mastered stitching school uniforms, shirts, trousers, and salwar suits.
Under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned
curriculum, she mastered garment construction, along with meeting
quality standards. The program not only helped her perfect her craft
but also ensured she could cater to real market demands, giving her a
direct pathway to financial independence.

Beyond tailoring, the biggest shift was in her mindset. She was trained
in financial literacy, digital transactions, and business management.
Using the Mera Bill App, she learned to track her earnings, manage
expenses, and reinvest wisely. The idea that she could control her own
finances and build a stable future was something she had never
imagined.

22
Her first customers were neighbors, but as word spread of her precision and craftsmanship, her clientele grew. With each new order, her confidence
soared. She no longer feared tomorrow—she was building it.

Today, Shokina earns ₹5,500 a month, a sum that not only sustains her family but also allows her to dream bigger for her daughter. The thought of
buying a new sewing machine, once impossible, is now a goal within reach.

Each night, as she watches her daughter sleep, she knows she has kept her promise—not just to her child, but to herself. She didn’t leave in search of a
better future; she created one right where she stood.

Shokina
Dada Jalalpur Village
Bhagwanpur Block
Haridwar District
Uttarakhand

23
 For Shruti, ambition was never the problem—opportunity was. As the
WALKING MILES eldest daughter in a struggling household, she knew dreams were a
TO WEAVING DREAMS! luxury she couldn’t afford. Her father, an electrician, worked long
hours, but his earnings barely kept food on the table. Every rupee was
accounted for, and Shruti understood early on that her aspirations
would always come second to survival.

She wanted more—not just for herself, but for her family. Tailoring had
always been her escape, her quiet passion. Yet, professional training
remained out of reach. The high fees of local training centers made it
clear—some doors simply weren’t meant to open for girls like her.

That changed the day she heard about the Skill Development Training
Program, launched by the AIF in partnership with NBCFDC and IRFC. It
wasn’t just a training course—it was a lifeline for women like her,
designed to remove financial barriers and offer real opportunities for
independence.

With relentless determination, Shruti walked four kilometers every day

to the Training and Production Centre (TPC), resolute to make this
chance count. Under the National Skills Qualifications Framework
(NSQF)-aligned curriculum, she mastered industrial garment
construction, precision tailoring, and high-quality finishing techniques.
But learning to stitch was only part of the transformation.

The program’s ‘Earn While Learn’ model meant she could start taking
small stitching orders even during training. What began with neighbors
soon grew into something bigger—her reputation spread, and soon she
was handling large-scale orders for school uniforms and casual wear.

But perhaps the most powerful lesson she learned was how to take
control of her finances. Through the Mera Bill App, she tracked her

24
earnings, set fair prices, and managed customer transactions. She no longer had to guess whether her business was doing well—she could see it
growing before her eyes.

Today, Shruti earns ₹3,000 a month, easing her family’s financial struggles and proving that she is more than just a daughter in a household—she is a
provider, a businesswoman, and a force of her own making.
Shruti
Sabras Village
Tauro Block
Mewat District, Haryana

25
 National Backward Classes Finance and Development
Corporation
The National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation
(NBCFDC) is a Govt. of India Undertaking under the aegis of the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Corporation was
incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 on 13th
January 1992. The objective of the Corporation is to promote
economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward
Classes and to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill
development and self-employment ventures. NBCFDC provides
financial assistance through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs)
OUR ALLIES nominated by the State Governments/UTs and Banks (PSBs & RRBs).
Learn more at [Link]

Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC)

Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) is the dedicated funding
arm of Indian Railways. The company was set up in December 1986 for
mobilizing funds from domestic and overseas markets to meet the
pre-dominant portion of the Extra Budgetary Resources requirement
of Indian Railways. IRFC is a Schedule ‘A’/Miniratna Public Sector
Enterprise under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways,
Government of India. Learn more at [Link]

26
 AIF’s Livelihoods program drives a unique market-relevant approach,
harnessing the power of technology, to provide knowledge, skills, and
American India Foundation (AIF)
opportunities to underprivileged youth, marginalized women, and
The American India Foundation (AIF) is committed to improving the lives
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to secure jobs, manage enterprises,
of India’s underprivileged, with a special focus on women, children, and
and access dignified and sustainable livelihoods while building
youth. The Foundation does this through high-impact interventions in
climate resilient communities. With a keen focus on the areas of
education, health, and livelihoods because poverty is multidimensional.
remote jobs, ecosystem support for enhanced female labor force
Founded over two decades ago, in the aftermath of the devastating
participation, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities for
Gujarat earthquake, as a humanitarian initiative by the then Prime
PwDs, street vendors, and artisans around the country, AIF Livelihoods
Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, and the U.S. President, Mr. Bill
aims to lead nationwide, industry-led, collaborative skills and
Clinton, AIF has impacted the lives of nearly 19 million of India’s poor
entrepreneur development initiatives, to meet India’s growing need for
across 35 States and Union Territories of India. Learn more at
skilled workforce. Since 2006, the program has served 3.2 million
[Link]
underserved citizens across India.

27
28
29
 CATALYZING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE IN INDIA
PUBLIC HEALTH | EDUCATION | LIVELIHOODS | LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT