PADMAVATHI

Sculpting her own future

Watching Padmavathi’s nimble fingers at work is fascinating. The 26-year-old mother of two, is a sculptor and earns anywhere between INR 7,000 and INR 10,000 a month. Her confidence and pride stem from her newfound financial independence. Had she not joined a Hand in Hand self-help group three years ago, her story would not have been such a happy one.

Born in a sculpting family, Padmavathi learnt the art in childhood, but traditionally, sculpting is not considered a profession for women. Her family educated her until Class IX and then married her off to a sculptor. After marriage, she continued to chip away and help her husband with his art, but she could little more, busy with household chores and her children. Income was meagre and often orders were hard to come by.

Then, Padmavathi joined Hand in Hand’s Baratham self-help group, encouraged by her supportive husband. This decision benefited not only Padmavathi but also her husband. In the group, women are taught to save, the basics of accounting, as well as how to run and expand small enterprises. Soon, Padmavathi became eligible for micro-loans and she used these not only to expand her husband’s sculpting business but she also decided to take on full-time sculpting herself. With two members, the business flourished and the income is good now.

Padmavathi’s first loan was INR 5,000 from Hand in Hand. Later, she got INR 10,000 as a group loan. Most of this money was spent on raw material and better tools. She was able to earn enough and has already paid back the first loan. “Repayment is not a problem”, she says, “I have made sure the loan is used only for business.”

The couple works together, whether they are carving figures or managing their finances. “This is such a unique profession. If our children take to it, we can continue the family tradition”, says Padmavathi. Much to her relief and delight, her elder son is interested and Padmavathi plans to give him a formal education in sculpting. The village still marvels at her transformation from a shy bride to a self-assured professional.