Iramma Patil is 35 years old. She has been married for 10 years. She has one daughter, Sumya, who is 11 years old and wants to be a doctor. She is her husband’s second wife. The first wife is Iramma’s sister. Her sister couldn’t have children and thus, at the risk of banishment, gave permission to the husband to marry Iramma as a second wife. Iramma therefore lives together with her sister, their husband, and her daughter. Her sister has no education at all and lives as a housewife with no income.
Iramma could not complete primary school due to lack of funds and turned to farming and fieldwork when she 10 years old. After 18 years of fieldwork, Iramma followed a six month tailoring course and, after receiving permission from her husband, she began working as a tailor stitching school uniforms. From this she earned Rs 1000 per month (€14 per month). Her husband does social work administrating property papers, earning Rs 2500 per month (€35 per month).
Iramma joined the Satara Fashion Project to enhance her tailoring skills and earn an income.
“I’m very happy with this opportunity to improve my cutting and stitching skills.”
Iramma’s dream is to build a professional business with her own shop, producing more than just school uniforms. She wants to be able to provide her daughter with a proper education.
