Baising is a small village located in the hilly region of Rayagada district, Odisha, where most families depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Due to limited facilities within the village, people often travel to Rayagada town for basic services such as tailoring, clothing purchases and other household needs. Seasonal farming and irregular wage opportunities make it difficult for families to maintain a stable income throughout the year.
Among them was Rashmita Palaka, a resident of Baising village. Like many women in her community, she relied on agriculture and occasional daily wage labor to support her family. With no vocational skills or alternative livelihood opportunities, managing household expenses remained a constant struggle.
Before joining the SBI Prerna Centre, Rashmita’s family income depended entirely on farming, which was often uncertain due to unpredictable weather conditions and fluctuating crop yields. During periods when agricultural work was unavailable, she travelled to Rayagada in search of daily wage labor. Despite her willingness to work hard, she lacked the skills and opportunities needed to earn a regular income from within her village. At the same time, villagers faced another challenge. There were no tailoring services available locally, forcing families to travel long distances even for simple stitching needs.
Recognizing the need for sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural women, Prayatn Sanstha established the SBI Prerna Tailoring Training Centre in Baising village with the financial support from SBI Foundation under the SBI Gram Seva Project. During gram seva community meetings, women were encouraged to participate in skill development programs that could help them become self-reliant.
For Rashmita, the Centre brought new hope. Determined to improve her family’s financial situation, she joined the first batch of trainees and began learning tailoring under the guidance of Ms. Jayanti Mandangi, Tailoring Teacher. Through regular practice and hands-on sessions, she mastered garment stitching, blouse cutting, dress making and other tailoring skills that would later become the foundation of her livelihood.
The training became a turning point in her life. After successfully completing the three-month course, Rashmita purchased a sewing machine through a loan and started providing tailoring services within her village.
Today, Rashmita earns more than ₹6,000 per month through her tailoring work while continuing to support agricultural activities at home. Villagers no longer need to travel to Rayagada town for stitching services, as quality tailoring is now available within their own community.
The additional income has improved her family’s financial stability and helped them better manage household expenses, healthcare and daily needs. More importantly, Rashmita has gained confidence, recognition and a stronger voice in family and community decisions.
Today, she is recognized as a skilled and self-reliant woman in her village. Her journey has inspired other women in nearby communities to join skill development programmes and explore self-employment opportunities.
