“I’ve got 2 children and my husband is a private driver, but I always wanted to do something for myself. In 2014 I learned how to knit using a machine, making sweaters and scarfs and the like, I invested in my own digital machine and started taking orders. In a month I now earn 15-20,000 – which helps me to fix my house, pay for treatment of my health issues and support my children’s education.

My husband lost his job during COVID-19 pandemic and I was able to sustain the family with my knitting. We were procuring wool from Ludhiana at Rs. 340kg and on-selling it via the SHG Rural Mart at Rs420 per kg.  I started to get involved in the Rural Mart at a leadership level and today am on the Board of Directors. We have our sights set on turning our SHG into a federation soon.” - Simran Kaur, Ropar, Punjab.