Savitri Mane is 34 years old. She has four children. Her oldest daughter, Rupa, is 16 years old and studying in the tenth grade. However, there is not enough money available for her to continue. Her younger daughter, Shilpa, is 14 years old and studying in the eighth grade. Her son, Ravendra, is 12 years old and her youngest daughter, Pria, is 8 years old. Savitri’s husband left her three years ago, and she has never heard of him since. Her husband was extremely abusive. He once beat her so hard that he broke her skull. Her brother then called the police, at which point he ran away. She now lives in her own house with her four children, and receives some assistance from her brother.
Savitri belongs to the lower class Hindu Maratha caste. She attended school until she was 8 years old. She had to quit as her parents could no longer afford to pay her tuition. She then began working as a farmer. At the age of 16, following a one month training course, Savitri starting working from home as a tailor. She then married and continued this work at home, earning a monthly salary of Rs 1500 (€21 per month). At the time, her husband was employed as a construction worker.
One year ago, Savitri obtained a microloan of Rs 5000 (€70) from Mann Deshi. She used it pay her childrens’ tuition fees, but has still not managed to repay it.
Savitri joined the Satara Fashion Project to gain experience with industrial sewing machines and to learn new stitching methods.
“At first I found the course very difficult, but now I am doing much better.”
Savitri’s dream is to grow her tailoring business at home, and thereby provide all of her children with a proper education.
