Introduction:
Renu Jaiswal, a woman of 75 years old from the small town of Chaibasa, Jharkhand is still working incessantly toward the Prime Minister’s vision of creating an Atma Nirbhar Bharat. It is 31 years now since she began this journey along with her sister, Sunanda Sao who has equally contributed to making the Women’s Vocational Training Institute a success. Both these women brought a revolution in the lives of tribal women by teaching them stitching, art, and craft and making them skilled enough to earn livelihoods of their own, and also helping other women and girls in their villages by opening an institute.
They, as women, have stepped forward in society and helped other minorities and economically weaker sections when times were challenging for them. But they never gave up. They saw obstacles as opportunities and used them as stepping stones for their growth. They together have taught more than 62 batches with at least 40 students in each. They charged minimum fees to keep the institute going and also imparted education for free to those who were willing to learn and didn’t have anything to pay in return. Renu Ji aims at teaching free of cost from the upcoming year 2023.
History:
Their journey is inspirational and quite extraordinary. It all began in the year 1991 when the country was in economic turmoil and Renu Jaiswal started this institute to give wings to her dreams. It was her younger sister, Sunanda Sao who then joined hands with her and stepped up to support the cause. Renu Ji taught art and craft while her sister taught stitching to women and girls.
Art and Craft:
But she just didn’t teach art and craft. In fact, submerged her entire being into its creation. The walls of her room, halls, and corridors are filled with ancient art forms of India. They are full of life, love, color, creativity, devotion, and heritage. When anyone walks through it, it feels like he/she just had a tour of one of the rich cultural and heritage sites.
Behind every piece of art lies a meaning, a story behind it. Only a true devotee of art can decipher the pain, love, struggle, light, and hope with which she created them. She fills life in the still paper. Her hands in action are like the air that flows with the wind unworried about direction and destiny and keeps going- giving life and mirth to everyone on the way.
Renu Ji learned the basics of art, craft, stitching, and embroidery from the Polytechnic Private Prayagraj, Allahabad after her marriage. She finished the six months course in 20 days and returned to Chaibasa and opened an institute. In the following years, she used her creativity and innovation with the techniques learned, greatly improving and enhancing them in the process.
Her daughter-in-law, Aparna Jaiswal also made significant contributions to the institution when she joined the family.
These are the following skills taught at the Women’s Vocational Training Institute, Chaibasa, Jharkhand by Renu and Sunanda Ji.
Awards and Honors:
Their exquisite work has been recognised by the SR Rungta Group and Jharkhand Government. They have been awarded with the Singhbhum Festival cum Rural Development Exhibition 1997 and Sawan Mela Award 2022 in order to celebrate their creativity and social contributions.
Inspiration:
She dedicated her life and work to her father, Lakshmi Prasad Sao who was a successful businessman and a father. From the very beginning of her life, he paid very close attention to her education, learning, singing, and writing from being various teachers, and mentors to sitting and educating himself. She remembers him in her success.
Thank You!
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Prerna 🙂
