Malti works as a domestic help in BRS Nagar. A native of Uttar Pradesh,she dropped out of school after Class I to fend for her family. These days,however,she is busy learning stitching apart from attending mannerism classes for two hours daily. Malti says,I have been allowed by my employer to join this class. I have already completed a three-month stitching course and now I am upgrading it to six months. I want to work in a boutique and this way I will be doing something different from what my mother and grandmother did. Anita Yadav is another woman who left her job as a part-time domestic help after completing a three-month stitching course and is now working in a boutique. Anita,who lives in one-room house in BRS Nagar along with her family,says,I am learning more skills,so that I can earn more. Malti and Anita are not the only ones to have benefited from these stitching classes being run by Maha Sabha at the Baba Bhan Singh Memorial in Sunet village. A total of 13 girls are learning these skills,including personal grooming. A monthly fees of Rs 100 is charged so that the girls take these training classes seriously,said Col (Retd) J S Brar,president of the organisation. A library has also been set up at this memorial,where stitching classes are conducted for two hours every evening. Noorpreet,daughter of ASI Balbir Singh,trains the girls while Indira Wadhwa,who was running the famous Indira boutique for domestic and export work,supervises them. Neelam Kapoor from NGO Jago conducts personal grooming classes. She said,We stared with two girls for the three-month stitching course and now the number has gone up to 13. Most of these girls work as domestic helps during the daytime and want to do something better in life. Most of them are illiterates,but they are learning well and we have assured to get them jobs in boutiques in Ludhiana. Indira Wadhwa,who donated the sewing machines,has even said that if any girl does really well,she will help her open a boutique and export the garments. Kapoor says,The girls are told about their rights,table manners and many other things. Earning money is not enough; one needs to be confident as well. Of the 13 girls,11 have now decided to pursue the six-month course as it would help them get better jobs,said Kapoor. Women to get certificates today Since Baba Bhan Singh belonged to Sunet village,his memorial has been set up by Maha Sabha,an NGO,with voluntary contributions. Baba Bhan Singh played an important role in Gadar Lehar and was sent to Kalapani by the British,where his name tops the martyrs list. A statue worth Rs 2 lakh has also been constructed at the memorial site. The statue will be unveiled on Saturday and the girls pursuing the three-month stitching course will be given certificates. Freedom fighters involved in Gadar Lehar have been invited to attend the function,said Col Brar.
