Usha Silai School Empowers Border Heroes: Stitching Strength with Armed Forces

In the remote village of Turtuk, Ladakh, nestled between towering Karakoram and Himalayan ranges near the Line of Control, 30 tribal women gather in a modest training center established by Samaarambh Foundation, NHPC, and Usha International. Amid Usha sewing machines and colorful fabrics, participants like Shakila Bano focus intently on stitching frocks and pillow covers during a 7-day intensive program, their expressions of newfound confidence reflecting the initiative's role in fostering self-reliance and economic dignity in this harsh, resource-scarce borderland.

Myank Khantwal, Founder of Samaarambh Foundation, interacts with tribal women trainees in Turtuk's Training cum Production Centre, surrounded by donated Usha machines and designer wear prototypes like laptop bags. As women practice advanced stitches under guidance, his emphasis on empowering underserved communities highlights the collaboration's impact, enabling regular income generation and social-economic upliftment through skills that transform homemakers into entrepreneurs in Ladakh's challenging terrains.

At Headquarters 8 Mountain Division in Khumbathang, Kargil, Shikha Krishnan, Chairperson of the Women Empowerment Centre, guides 15 women through a 25-day professional tailoring program in a vibrant training room filled with Usha machines and garment patterns. Amid the rugged Ladakhi landscape, participants stitch suits and baby frocks, embodying the Indian Army's initiative since 2002 to provide platforms for skill-sharing, professional growth, and economic independence in isolated border communities.

Women at Khumbathang's WEC blend tailoring with supplementary skills like soap-making and beautician services, their hands busy with fabrics and tools in a supportive group setting. As they transition from basic home stitching to professional earning, the scene captures the program's holistic approach, fostering creativity, leadership, and community bonds while preserving regional craftsmanship and expanding livelihood options in Ladakh's unforgiving environment.

In Dakhinkuchi village near Subankhata, Assam, along the Indo-Bhutan border, women of the Birgwshri Fashion and Home Accessories Unit showcase Bodo Aronai-inspired bags and accessories at the 14th Indo-Bhutan Friendship Fair. Amid bustling stalls and cross-border visitors, participants like Sunita Baro, trained at the Grameen Vikas Manch TCPC funded by HDFC and powered by Usha, demonstrate how collective entrepreneurship bridges cultural ties, generates sustainable income, and empowers women in this harmonious yet opportunity-limited frontier.