Kamala Darji
A needle that never stops, it sews and sustains
Kamala Darji, a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Gauradha, spent many years as a homemaker,managing her household, raising children, and putting her family’s needs first. Though deeply committed to her role, she often found herself wishing for more: the ability to earn, to support her family financially, and to have something she could call her own.
Tailoring had always been a part of her life. Her father was a tailor, and she grew up watching him turn fabric into livelihood. Inspired by those memories, Kamala began stitching clothes at home,first for her family, then for a few neighbors. Slowly, her skill began turning into small income.
With each piece she stitched, she gained not just money but confidence. She realized how powerful it was to have her own source of income, especially during times when a single income wasn’t enough for the family. That realization pushed her to take the leap.
She started her own tailoring enterprise with one machine and a handful of customers. At first, it was modest,but her dedication to quality and timely delivery started gaining attention. She makes varieties of clothing items like Lehenga,Choli,Kurtha,Sari,Blouse, kids wear as well as uniforms.Her skills and service gained popularity and she gained more confidence to expand her enterprise. Over time, she added a second-hand machine and brought in a staff member to help meet growing demand.
She came to learn about the GEEP program from a small farmer’s institution and decided to join the program hoping to learn skills to manage her business effectively. Through GEEP, Kamala learned to be mindful of her expenditures and savings, better customer management skills as well as marketing strategies. She now wishes to pass down the skills she learned to other women in her area.
She plans on utilizing the marketing skills with the use of social media and technology. She wants to use platforms like facebook and tiktok to start providing her services through online medium and expand her enterprise beyond Gauradha.
Kamala firmly believes that one should invest their energy and skills in their own land instead of going to foreign country. More than just a thought, she wants to take it into action by training other women and helping them become independent.
Hope, for Kamala ,lies in her own hard work and abilities.The small enterprise she started is slowly growing as she continues to win the heart and trust of her customers.Hence, she envisions a future where every woman has the ability to stand on her own feet, utilize her skills to establish her own enterprise, and ensure that local products reach every corner of the state leading to an empowered nation.
What began as a quiet skill passed down from her father is now a thriving business with purpose.Today, Kamala’s business is more than a means of income. It’s a symbol of independence and ambition. She’s no longer just managing her home,she’s running an enterprise, contributing to her community, and inspiring other women to step into entrepreneurship.