“My name is Reeta Devi. I was born and brought up in Jaipur, Rajasthan. My life has been a series of struggles. My mother passed away when I was a kid. My family’s financial situation deteriorated and survival became a challenge. I dropped out of school and was married off when I was only 16. My in-laws weren’t able to make ends meet either. This was when I had planned on starting something on my own to ensure a good life for my children.
I wanted to do something but the lack of access to education added to my helplessness. One day, at the local panchayat, they held a meeting for women who were like minded and were oriented towards growing but did not know how. That’s when a community facilitator from Equitas Bank visited our panchayat meeting. They explained the merits of joining free skill training under the banner of EGK training program that was conducted at a local center. They explained about the extended need for washing powder and phenyl supplies among the villages around. I hardly knew anything about chemical preparation, but they gave us enough confidence and were very promising about our growth. On gaining enough trust, I had enrolled in their training program and now I am proud that I am independent and self-sufficient.
After the training program, Equitas understood about my financial problems and offered me loans. I couldn’t thank them enough for their support right from the inception. Now my dreams of running my own business has come true.”
We salute women like Reeta Devi for being change-makers, and bringing about a positive transformation- both in their lives and in the mindset of the society.
