OTV Cares: A light at the end of tunnel for these women

Anyone in her place would have surrendered to fate but by her sheer determination and hard work, she has been able to script a success story. And she feels her life’s journey wouldn’t have been that easier without the help of OTV Cares. Meet Subhashree Subhadarshini, a resident of Tikarpada village in Puri district.

Born into a poor family, Subhashree had had enough in her life. Things were okay in her five-member family. But then the fate played a cruel joke on her. She lost her father and her mother fell sick. All of a sudden, the entire burden of the family fell on her untrained shoulders. In the meantime, she was married off. But she never forgot her ailing mother and two sisters. It was when she was looking for a source of earning so that she could run her own family and take care of her mother and sister that an advertisement on TV screen came as a manna from heaven and changed her life for the better. 

“One day while watching OTV, I saw an advertisement of OTV Cares where applications for sewing training were invited. As I didn’t want to let any opportunity slip from my fingers, I applied and got selected. Then I attended a counseling session. There the instructor of the Centurion University’s Gram Tarang told me that the training would be on how to use industrial sewing machine. I was acquainted with the normal sewing machine. So when I came to know that the training would be on computerized sewing machine, my interest grew. Then my training started. As of now, I have learnt everything like how to operate and control the machine. Now, I have been working in the production unit for ten days. The training instilled confidence in me and now I can fend for myself,” said Subhashree. 

“If a son can run his own family and take care of his parents, why can’t I? My aim is to bear the treatment cost of my ailing mother and education cost of my two sisters. If today I am able to do something for my family members, it is because of OTV Cares. OTV Cares has helped me face the struggle of life with ease,” she maintained.

Another trainee Subhalaxmi Das from Salpur has also something similar to narrate. “After my Plus II, I had to discontinue my study due to some problems. I came to know about this training programme through OTV from an advertisement. I applied for it and got selected. I have completed the 45-day-long training session. The training has infused confidence in me that I can now earn something and run my family. This training is different from others. On the basis of the certificate we will receive here, we can also apply for jobs.”

Centurion University’s Gram Tarang trainer Madhusmita Maharana said, “Most of the students here are married ones.  Our aim is to make them self-reliant. One good thing I want to point out about them is that they had not taken leave during the training period. I would like to thank OTV for giving them such a valuable offer. They can either work here as Gram Tarang has a production unit or they can start their own business at their house. And if they want to do a job outside the state, we will also get that for them.”

Heaping praise on OTV Cares’ initiative, Gram Tarang’s general manager Sanjeev Mishra said, “I would like to thank OTV Cares for giving us 15 students. Last year too they had sent students. Most of the students are from backward classes or from families struggling with problems. Meanwhile, they have improved a lot. In the first fifteen days, they could stitch their own dress. Now we have the plan to absorb them in our own production centre. But if they want to join any garment house outside the state, we will also do that for them.”