To think of living with almost no control and freedom over one’s own life are quite suffocating state of affairs. This might come across as an exaggerated and frivolous thinking to many, but such is the story of innumerable women across the globe. When it comes to their basic education, health, security or even living conditions, women have been suppressed and their dreams and aspirations have been squashed. At present, that thousands of women in India are marginalized and poorly treated within society resulting in a lack of the skills and confidence needed to live fulfilled and active lives. Currently, a staggering 245 million women across India are unable to read or write, this severely limits their position and opportunities available to them within society. Being illiterate as well as unskilled creates a blinding need for education and training for the under privileged women of these communities. That is why Lakshyam stepped in to create an impact by changing the lives of women from these backgrounds, by creating the set goals and training session to make them self sustainable in life.

Long term Goal:

To provide an environment conducive to a healthy empowered society which provides opportunities for income generation for women and ensures equality for all. The focus of Rooh Program is also on teaching the art of sewing, cutting, stitching and providing financial literacy workshops to women, thus creating opportunities for income enhancement and self sustainability.

Short term Goal:

To provide 50 women with all the basic knowledge and to empower them via skill training and making them self-reliant where they can generate income for themselves to Rs. 3000-5000/ a month.Based on the comprehensive needs assessment survey conducted by Lakshyam earlier and the periodic community meetings, Lakshyam has identified the needs of community women and the targeted beneficiaries. The activities have been planned so as to cater to specific needs of marginalized women and girls and would follow multi-pronged strategies.

To introduce anything new to the women who are completely unaware about it, it is very important for us to enlighten them with the proper step by step knowledge. For this the organization has carried out the following steps:-

Counselling: First step is to provide them with counseling, to make them self aware about their worth and their individuality. Counselling will help them to broaden their mind and also opens up the person to not shy away from availing the opportunities.

Skill Training: After counselling we provide them the skill training which is divided into two parts as both skills are easy to learn and follow and is sustainable. Lakshyam has created its market channel as well, so that we can bridge the gap between them till the time they get a hold of it and are confident enough to go out themselves.

• Simple cloth bag stitching, which has become beneficial for us because of new policy of no plastic. This has created a boost and a demand in the market for cloth bags which is directly helping and motivating the ladies to work. By making the bags they can earn upto 3000-5000 Rs/pm, depending on their individual production capacity. The cost of one bag we keep it Rs. 6 of which they have to make minimum 500 bags.
• Second, is Gaunayle which is a substitute of Phenyl/Floor Cleaner which is made out of cow urine. Cow urine and neem leaves being the main and important ingredient of the gaunayle are available in abundance and free of cost, makes it a plus point for women as both are easily accessible. We will be providing the training of how to make the gaunayle which can be sold to local stores, hospitals, schools which will directly help the women and the animal welfare. The advantage of buying this over market brands are that it contains 0% chemicals and proves to be 80% better than any phenayle in the market.

Financial Literarcy: The main purpose of providing the skill training to underprivileged women is to keep them occupied with work which will generate an income and financial stability in their life which will impact their way of living as well. Financial literacy training will train them about how they can work, do saving and investment, what business is and how one can start their own business. This will help them to be self sustainable and even after Lakshyam is not there, they will know how to continue with their work and expand it.

Marketing: Market introduction is the most important part of the whole project. After the completion of all the above 3 stages women will be introduced to the market areas, to provide them information as from where to buy raw materials, exploring and also how to make contacts to sell their product once they are independent and capable to start up their own business

Lakshyam has designed its model keeping in mind that women can also stay at home and work from there, and without any tension can take care of the of their children rather than leaving them behind alone. This also reduces the various kind of sexual and physical harassment cases that usually children face when parents are not around or out for work specially in the area we are working in. Beneficiaries of the project include women aged 18+; skilled and unskilled women, women from rural & urban. 

• To provide Vocational training and skill building workshops to ensure women have job opportunities.
• Setting up workshops in stitching and sewing in order to enhance income and self-sustainability.
• To train women to become skilled, knowledgeable and productive members of the community, thus empowering them and boosting confidence within the society.
• To increase the potential of adolescent girls as contributors to the development of the community.
• To create awareness on savings and income generation programme to youth and women to motivate them to become self-reliant.
• To provide financial literacy to all the women, thus, directly helping them in managing their income and financial growth.