Usharani built her own future and now helps others build theirs

Growing up in Harobande, India, Usharani saw few opportunities for girls. Most left school at an early age. Poor transport made it difficult to continue their education or find work outside the village. Usharani however, was determined to create a different future. She completed her pre-university education and, at the age of fourteen, discovered a talent that would change the course of her life.

Inspired by a television program, she used a piece of leftover fabric to experiment with stitching, painting and embroidery. The result was admired by everyone around her. More importantly, it showed Usharani what she was capable of.

Her skills soon became a way to support her family. She started doing stitching and design work for a weekly wage and took on seasonal work in a local shop. As the eldest in the family, she felt a strong responsibility to help her family members. Not everyone approved of her decision to work outside the home, but Usharani continued.

Her path was far from easy. She faced opposition from relatives, financial pressure and an unfriendly, male-dominated environment. Yet each setback made her look for another way forward. She returned to tailoring, rebuilt her income and developed the habit of saving a fixed amount every month. Step by step, she created greater financial security for herself and her family.

Her entrepreneurial journey continued. She expanded into brickmaking. Today, she manages much of the brick business herself: monitoring stock and expenses, overseeing quality, arranging payments and ensuring that the administration is in order. Together, her businesses have created work for several other women and community members.

Buzz Women played an important role in strengthening the abilities that were already within her. Through the Self Shakthi, Spoorthy and Vyapar programs, Usharani learned to understand income and expenses, plan her time, save for the future and look beyond immediate survival. The Buzz Women Beehive meetings offered her a lot of encouragement.

 

“Buzz taught me that when you grow, you should also help others grow.”

 

She has inspired a lot of women by sharing her experiences and encouraging them to recognize their own potential. Her husband, who initially did not want her to work outside the home, now supports her choices and admires her dedication. A principle he once shared with her has become central to the way she lives: Your palm should always face the earth, meaning you should always be giving, not just receiving.

Usharani’s ambitions reach far beyond financial success. Her greatest dream is to use the income and security she creates to care for elderly people who have been abandoned or have no family to support them. She hopes to offer them food, safety and a place where they feel at home.

Usharani has shaped her future through courage, creativity and determination. But for her, moving forward has never been something she does alone. Every step she takes creates opportunities for others to move forward too. That is how one woman’s strength becomes a force for change.