Where there is a skill, there is a way

The Vocational Training Institute is named after Gujjala Sarala Devi, a feminist and activist during the Telangana struggle

Kondapur: Amidst the concrete jungle of Hitech City, a woman pointed to an arch that read ‘Chandra Rajeshwara Rao Foundation’ that she said was the saviour to many destitute women in the locality. The swath of road that led us to the building was covered in what looked like vivid remnants of the previous day’s Sankranthi festivities. The establishment runs with a motive to provide sustenance for the elderly and women living in subpar living conditions.

Set up in 1994 and funded primarily by the CPI party, the government allocated five-acre spread of land houses five prominent buildings that focus on research, development and care for the needy. CR Foundation has a Research Centre, Health Centre, a Home for the aged, Women’s welfare centre and an institute that offers vocational training for women between the ages of 18 to 40.

While the Mahila Sankshema Kendram (Women’s welfare centre) is named after Arutla Kamala Devi, a fierce advocate of women’s rights and welfare, the Vocational Training Institute is named after Gujjala Sarala Devi, a feminist and activist during the Telangana struggle. These centers focus on teaching women a skill or two over a three-month-long period that would later help them to land jobs and start business ventures of their own. Charging a registration fee of Rs 50, the ladies are offered certificate courses on handicrafts, embroidery, tailoring, block printing and bag making. G Geethika, a teacher, who works for the organization said, “Most of the women we have belong to families which are below the poverty line. There are about 60-80 women in a batch.”

They also open an exhibition to sell the products made in the centre. “Earlier, we used to sell handmade bags at Shiparamam also. It is not feasible to make them anymore as making a single bag consumed a lot of time.” Explaining about the courses offered in the vocational training centre, 18 year-old Md Farana says, “We are taught data entry, DTP and tally. Due the lack of funds, we don’t have many computers as of now.” Sri Ramananda Tirtha Rural Institute (SRTRI) has contributed the only five computers in the room. The courses begin at 9.30 am and end at 4 pm every-day. “Owing to the many layers of craftwork like sketching, cutting and embroidery, it easily takes time to incorporate all of them in a day’s schedule,” explained Geethika.

The non-profit organisation also provides the poor with medical assistance from experts at a monthly charge of Rs 30. K Rajini, a local doctor and convener of the medical programme visits once a week to treats patients and offer motivational and counseling sessions for the women.

The non-profit organisation also provides the poor with medical assistance from experts at a monthly charge of Rs 30 - K Rajini, Doctor

Subha Priyadarshini