Women and Vocation

Even after 60 years of independence, India continues to follow the education system that was introduced by the British during their rule. Over the years, there has been an accelerated growth in the number of colleges for general studies while institutes for vocational studies, have been increasingly sidelined. Vocational education in India aims to develop skilled manpower through a host of professional courses that would enable students to venture into the unorganized sectors and at the same time, inculcate self- employment skills through a variety of self employment oriented programs. As a result, by the time students complete these courses, they are well equipped to attain a job. In India, vocational training is majorly imparted by Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) or institutes called ‘polytechnics’.
In a patriarchal society such as India, women are attributed a position, subordinate to that of men. The services rendered by women are heavily ignored, moreover they are expected to be chaste and modest about any characteristics that may enable them to perform exceedingly well in the work place and even outperform their male counterparts. While the women from the elite and upper middle class of society have gained ample exposure to the global scenario, women from the lower class, are confined to their domestic sphere and denied any opportunities to hone their talents. A lot of the times, these women from the lower strata of society, who are doubly handicapped by class and gender, are uneducated and work as unskilled manual labor at construction sites, as domestic help, washer women, vendors of small shops and so on.
However, there is one such organization that dares to transcend the traditional boundaries laid by the socio- cultural context of India. Adharshila, is a non governmental organisation, situated in New Delhi, which aims to build foundations at the grass root levels of society with dedication and sincerity. They aim at uplifting the under privileged in society by offering them a plethora of development programs. For this purpose they offer three kinds of vocational training programs for women; computer and informatics training, health and beauty care, and sewing and dress designing, all absolutely free of cost. Ms. Neena Jolly, who established the organization in 2004 along with Ms. Geeta Arora, says, “We set up this organization with the aim of ensuring tangible benefits to women of the slum communities. Our projects are designed to cater to the needs of these women and empower them through these programs. Even though we do not charge any money for these courses, the fact that we are able to secure these needy women bright futures by educating them, is quite rewarding. Today, we hold a record of having trained more than 1000 women in various vocational courses, and helping them obtain well paying employment opportunities.”
In 2005, Adharshila established its computer centre in view of helping women from slum areas cultivate vocational skills. The computer centre is sponsored by Bharti Foundation, a leading telecom brand in India and after completing the course which is nearly 12 weeks long, graduates receive certification directly from Jana Shikshan Sansthan, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. With 20 computers at the centre, students are taught essential concepts in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, DOS, internet usage, along with resume building and speedy typing. Teachers, who teach at the computer centre says, “We enroll about 15 to 20 women and girls in each batch. Over the 4 years that I have been teaching here, I have seen more and more women seeking admission in the course and the determination among these women to prove themselves is remarkable”. Shilpa Anand, a graduate of the course says while recounting her experience, “Before joining this course, I had absolutely no knowledge about the computer. As I come from a poor family, I could not afford any fancy institution for my training. So I joined Adharshila and the experience here was extremely enriching. Today I work in an electrical equipments company and the knowledge I gained here has helped me widely.”
Adharshila also conducts a course in beauty and heath care which is scheduled for six months, after which graduates receive certification from Jana Shikshan Sansthan. Nearly 40 students per batch are given basic education in nutrition, yoga, massage therapy, skin care and various kinds of beauty treatments. Kaynaad, a student of the course says, “I have always wanted to build a career in beauty and health care. My family was not very supportive of my education as I come from a poor family and my education would have been an added burden on my parents. The best part about Adharshila is that I am learning so much here but am not required to pay anything in return. Today, my family is also encouraging me in all my professional endeavors. I hope that after completing this course, I can realize my dream of being a successful beautician and owning my own beauty salon.”
Apart from these, Adharshila also offers vocational training in sewing and tailoring, which enrolls 20 students per batch and here too graduates receive certificates from Jana Shikshan Sansthan on completion of the course. One of the teachers, says “Most women joining this course are aged between 20- 35 years. Since most of them are married and are tied by various domestic responsibilities, the classes are held in the afternoons, to suit their convenience. We teach them various kinds of embroidery and designing and by the end of the course, each student has an impressive body of work to boast of”. Sunita, a graduate of the course says, “I hail from a small village in Haryana and I came to Delhi after I got married. Since my husband’s income was quite meager, I decided to work, but lacked the skill to perform any job well. So I joined this course here and today I have my own boutique. My husband and I run the boutique together. Sometimes I even come and teach students here. This place has given me a new lease in life and I feel this is my way of thanking Adharshila.”
Adharshila gets most of its funding from voluntary donations by corporate institutions and philanthropic individuals. The expenses of the computer course are borne completely by Bharti Foundation. Since the teachers work on a voluntary basis, the organization makes up for some of the expenditure, by saving up on their pay. Neena jolly adds, “Even though finances are really scarce at times, what drives us is the satisfaction we get, when we see the growth that each woman charts out here. In times of crises, we all stick together like one big family and help each other surmount all obstacles. It’s not about financial benefits, but about providing someone with adequate opportunities for a well rounded life. It’s about making people realize that nothing is impossible, if they have the determination and courage to follow what their heart desires. It’s about helping these under privileged women realize their dreams.”