In the remote village of 15A, Ward No. 3, Anupgarh (a town in the Sri Ganganagar district of the state of Rajasthan in India), where resources are scarce and opportunities even scarcer, lives Raju Devi. A 5th-pass woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, Raju’s life has been a journey of endurance and perseverance
Separated from her abusive, alcoholic husband seven years ago, Raju had to take charge of her own life while raising her two children. Due to financial constraints, she was unable to educate her daughter and had to send her to live with her sister. Meanwhile, her son met with a severe accident, which left him with neurological complications. Caring for him meant that Raju had to put her work on hold, further deepening her financial crisis.
Before her son’s accident, Raju relied on her tailoring skills to earn a meagre income of Rs. 2,000 per month. However, without financial stability, sustaining even this small business became a challenge. Despite facing many challenges, she stayed strong and never gave up. She worked hard to give her children a better and happier life.
Raju’s hardships were not limited to financial distress—her past was marked by domestic abuse. Years of violence had left her with physical scars, including the loss of a finger due to a brutal assault by her husband. Even today, she bears the wounds of those years, but her spirit remains unbroken.
Enrolling in ETASHA’s AU Udyogini
With mentoring and financial support from ETASHA’s Project AU Udyogini in Rajasthan, Raju Devi received much-needed support to restart her business. She purchased cloth and unstitched suits, which not only boosted her tailoring business but also allowed her to expand into selling fabric. Now, her customers buy unstitched material from her and also get their garments stitched at her shop—creating a stable and growing source of income for her.
Her hard work and perseverance bore fruit when, on March 6th, her shop was officially inaugurated by Dr. Meenakshi Nayar, Founder President at ETASHA, Mr. Aditya Chaudhary, CSR Manager at AU Foundation and ETASHA community team. This milestone symbolised her transition from survival to success, bringing hope and financial independence into her life.
She's more than a survivor today; an Entrepreneur
Today, Raju Devi no longer sees herself as a burden to her family. Instead, she has become a pillar of support for her elderly mother, contributing to the household income rather than relying on others. She has strengthened her business, standing tall with dignity and proving that no challenge is insurmountable.
Looking ahead, the focus is on ensuring her long-term success by getting her registered as an Udyami (MSME) and connecting her to government schemes that can provide financial stability and growth opportunities. With the right support and resources, her journey is just beginning – her horizons are expanding, and sky is the limit!!
Raju Devi’s story serves as an inspiration for countless women facing similar struggles, proving that with the right support, one can overcome any challenge and reclaim their dignity and independence.
Support more women like Raju: https://www.etashasociety.org/donate/
This blog is written by Shweta Sethi.