Impact Stories

Helped them in selling their handmade items

Help comes to those who are willing to work hard. This line fits the best to these couple. Let us read their story.

Sushila Bhat is found selling Kirchan ( a handmade decorative piece to hang on the walls) every day outside Gandhi Ashram. A 40- year- old is a happy- go- lucky person despite struggling to earn daily. She is accompanied by her husband Parshottambhai who works day and night in making Kirchan, horses, elephants of various sizes and sells outside Khadi shop, Gandhi Ashram.

Sushilaben says, "We were staying in Delhi for twenty years. We were involved in the same business in Delhi. We were also playing dhol in villages and weddings. But life had different plans for us. My husband who has a disability in right hand faced a traumatic experience when his veins got blocked of right eye."

She adds, " This made our life difficult. Our earnings got restricted. So, we shifted to Ahmedabad. We get roti here. It is not easy to earn livelihood in Delhi. We are in Ahmedabad for the last ten years. Basically, we are from Nagor village in Rajasthan. We have two daughters. One is married while the other is studying in Manav Sadhna."

The horses and elephants made by them are used either to display in hotels or used by kids to play with them. They are made of grass, bamboo, iron wires and covered with velvet covers in different colours. Children prefer black, red and purple colored horses. The devotees of Lord Ramapir prefer to keep in temple the green horses. They also made toran, umbrella, puppets etc.

They had a tough time during corona. With mammoth rent to pay of Rs 5,000 per month, they struggled to maintain household expenditure. The grocery, food were being provided by Manav Sadhna to them.

Meanwhile, during 2021, they met a girl studying in the reputed institute - IIM- A working with Mazdoor project for her internship and felt like meeting angel sent by God to them. After knowing their situation, she asked her to make the items they can sell worth Rs 15,000 by putting a stall in the prestigious institute. The money was provided by Mazdoor and they could display their work. They sold items worth Rs 13,000 and the remaining items of Rs 2,000 was later sold by them visiting places like Gandhi Ashram and Lal Darwaja.

Thus, Mazdoor team members helped them to earn Rs 15,000. She recalls how Mazdoor team members helped her husband to gain strength mentally. He is now more confident.

She says, "Two big pieces are made after working for 7-8 hours. It is not easy. It requires expertise and concentration. We can sell six big pieces in ten days. We will forever be indebted to them for the help Mazdoor team members provided us. They gave us employment by recognising our efforts. This made us more happy as they loved our work. Such help gives life to us. Instead of people being donated, we prefer this way of help."