Supriya's life story: From Fields to Fabric
As a young girl, Supriya had always been a hardworking and talented individual. She spent her childhood learning about crops, irrigation techniques, and how to take care of the three cows she had grown up with. She started her mornings by going to the fields to collect dried branches and twigs for cooking. During the day, she fed the family cows, and every evening, she delivered fresh milk to their customers' houses.
In 1986, at 20 years old, she got married and stepped into the role of a housewife. She managed the entire household - cooking fresh meals, dusting, cleaning, and doing laundry. She poured all her love and efforts into taking care of her family and her in-laws. She made sure everyone was healthy and happy.
As her children grew old enough for the oldest to look after the others, Supriya decided to use her talent of sewing to start a business of her own from home. She learned multiple designs and stitched beautiful clothes. Soon enough, she had many customers. Enough for her to turn down some due to her packed schedules. She spent her days sitting for hours on her sewing machines and preparing ready to wear dresses for her customers. During festivals, she was the busiest; working late nights to finish suits. Reflecting back, she describes this as one of the most empowering moments in her life. She earned a decent amount of 100 to 180 Indian rupees per piece at that time. And she's really proud of it. This hard work allowed her dream of becoming a tailor to come true along with supporting her family.
Today, unfortunately, she can no longer sit for hours to work on a suit anymore because of her health and physical challenges. She is no longer able to work due to her age and lives with her son's family. Her son provides her with a monthly allowance and takes care of all her expenses so she can rest and spend time with her grandchildren.