Rasmita aspired to be a history teacher since she was young, and the dream encouraged her to work hard. The 21-year-old is the oldest of the three siblings, and she wanted to support her family financially. Amidst financial scarcity, she did complete her school education as her parents worked as daily wage workers; it was difficult for them to manage education and health expenditure of the children. After completion of her 12th, she was looking for an entry level job but the lack of a college degree prevented her from getting it. The program team approached her for the Workforce Development Program and she decided to enroll in it, to help upskill her.
Rasmita did not know what will be taught in the WFD program, she simply grasped an opportunity that she saw. Several people from her neighborhood enrolled in it which gave her the confidence to venture into something she had little idea of. During the training, she developed more confidence in her communication skills and learnt how to work with a computer which boosted her confidence furthermore. After completing the training, she was able to find a job in a government office which pays her INR 7000 per month. It is not sufficient for the family but she is proud of finding a job, and does believe that it is a great start to her future. She ends up giving 70% of her income for household needs and manages to save 30% of it. She wants to educate her younger sister, and provide her with all the opportunities that she missed out on because of financial scarcity. Their family income is now INR 15000 – 20,000 and 1/3rd is spent on her siblings’ education.
On being asked about what she did with her first salary, she beams with joy and says – “I bought a saree for my mother and a watch for my father”. She has not bought anything for herself as yet, she is excited for her future and wants to continue with this job. She does see growth in the organisation and does enjoy working. She does believe that one of the additional benefits of financial independence is having complete control over your finances and being able to contribute to household expenses. Rasmita has high hopes for her future and her family is highly supportive of her decisions. Her mother is her confidante, and provides support and guidance to Rasmita whenever needed. Rasmita is fulfilling her dream through her siblings and she is determined to achieve her goals!