Malkangiri: Samari Muduli of Podavata in Markapalli gram panchayat has achieved single-handedly what many can’t do as an organised group. Setting a benchmark for self-reliance and entrepreneurship, she teaches tailoring to at least 60 women of the district. A number of women students from her institute have started their own tailoring institutes/shops and are earning a respectable living.
Although not highly educated, Samari learnt the lesson of being self-reliant at a young age. So, she got herself enrolled in a government skill development programme. Having learnt the skill, she got a sewing machine with a hand loan.
Committed to her passion and full of zeal, in no time, she started encouraging girls and women around her to learn the skill. News of Samari’s endeavours reached Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and she got another sewing machine to expand.
This gave her an impetus to start an institute named Gurupriya Tailoring Unit at Podavata. She got support from Odisha Skill Development Authority Chairman Subroto Bagchi and Odisha Livelihood Mission.
Today, Samari is reaping the harvest of her hard work in the form of praise from her trainees, many of whom are supporting their families by doing tailoring.
“At present, 60 women are working in two shifts at Samari’s institute. We are sure that she will progress a lot in future. Samari is a role model of Malkangiri,” a local official said.
