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SEWA Manager Ni School (SMS) is a resource for building managerial capacities among grassroots women
SEWA Manager Ni School was established in 2005 to equip grassroots women with management skills to successfully run their small enterprises. To accommodate changing needs in a globalized world, SMS is working towards providing capacity building training/s for microenterprises and informal sector workers. SMS is also committed to – strengthening the livelihoods of youth by offering needs-based skill trainings; and helping women realise their potential and learn that they too can be managers and owners of their enterprises!
Established in 1972, today the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) is both an organization and a movement, with a membership of over 2.5 million informal economy women workers across 18 Indian States.
Impact Quotes
Thalibon Marshillong
West Khasi – Meghalaya
“Through the SEWA-World Bank Digital Financial Literacy Program I was provided training by SEWA Manager Ni School on the usage and features of mobile phones and digital transactions. For women like me who are tied up with household work and farming activities, this training has proven to be a blessing; as it has made my life easy, safe and convenient besides saving my time! I now plan to learn the basics of each application using the smartphone as this is extremely essential in today’s digital era.”
Arti Kumari
Patna-Bihar
"Namaste! I am Arti Kumari, a humanities graduate from Patna. I recently availed of the Digital Financial Literacy Training from the SEWA Manager Ni School and have found it to be immensely beneficial in both my personal and professional life! I have linked my AADHAR Card with my bank account and have helped other grassroots sisters of my community also to do so; I now save sixteen hundred rupees on a monthly basis in my bank account and; I use my smartphone for money transfers, recharges and online purchases. Not only this after becoming a Master Trainer thanks to learning about virtual platforms I am able to deliver trainings to sisters located in faraway villages also!"
Ulkaben Gavli
Maharashtra
"The entrepreneurship development training delivered by SEWA Manager Ni School under the ‘Behno Ni Udyogsahsikta’ Program made me understand the benefit of working in an organized way. I am a tailor, but I alone cannot cater to the tailoring needs of all the people in my village. There are many women in my village who are not working and can spare some time from their daily household work. I will teach them tailoring and we can build a joint tailoring micro-enterprise. All of us can become financially independent and self-reliant and can support our families and provide our children with a better life"
Bhavnaben Girish Suthar -Master Trainer
Dungarpur, Rajasthan
“Namaste! I have been providing trainings in Hindi language since 2013 in topics like – personality development, leadership skills, member education and values, digital financial literacy, agriculture etc.
Of these a subject which I hold close to my heart is member education and values; as this training provides us with an all-round perspective of our SEWA and more importantly re-affirms our belief in our values.
Thanks to SEWA Manager Ni School not only have I been able to build the capacities of the sisters of my community but the economic condition of my family has also stabilized; I have educated both my daughters and today they are both independent!”
Shabnamben Qureshi
Rai Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
Shabnamben Qureshi from Rai Bareilly District of Uttar Pradesh has participated in many trainings of SEWA Manager Ni School; of these she finds the Digital Financial Literacy Training to be the most relevant and important in the current times as it provides information about the various digital and financial tools that bring convenience to our lives and help save our time and money. Sharing how she has applied the learnings from this training program Shabnamben says, “I now adeptly use mobile applications like Google Pay and PAYTM and my ATM Card for completing my routine banking transactions thereby saving three-to four hours and transportation cost of around eighty rupees per trip. I purchase my groceries and provisions from Amazon and Flipkart. I have also opened a ‘Jan Dhan’ savings account which going forward will financially support my family in case something untoward happens to me.”
Rinkuben Tusharbhai Suthar – Master Trainer
Anand, Gujarat
“Namaste! I have been providing trainings since 2020 in Hindi and Gujarati on topics like – personality development, member education and values, digital financial literacy, community based organizing, savings etc.
I simply enjoy providing trainings! SEWA Manager Ni School has strengthened my knowledge and training skills; not only has there been a positive change in my livelihood and life but I have also been able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my grassroots sisters.
‘Time Management’ is my favourite training module for many reasons – the topic is of universal interest; the games, tools and activities in this module are fun to conduct and participate in; and after implementing my learnings from this module I have completed my studies and today am working as a teacher.”
Rinkuben Tusharbhai Suthar – Master Trainer
Anand, Gujarat
“Namaste! I have been providing trainings since 2020 in Hindi and Gujarati on topics like – personality development, member education and values, digital financial literacy, community based organizing, savings etc.
I simply enjoy providing trainings! SEWA Manager Ni School has strengthened my knowledge and training skills; not only has there been a positive change in my livelihood and life but I have also been able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my grassroots sisters.
‘Time Management’ is my favourite training module for many reasons – the topic is of universal interest; the games, tools and activities in this module are fun to conduct and participate in; and after implementing my learnings from this module I have completed my studies and today am working as a teacher.”
Rinkuben Tusharbhai Suthar – Master Trainer
Anand, Gujarat
“Namaste! I have been providing trainings since 2020 in Hindi and Gujarati on topics like – personality development, member education and values, digital financial literacy, community based organizing, savings etc.
I simply enjoy providing trainings! SEWA Manager Ni School has strengthened my knowledge and training skills; not only has there been a positive change in my livelihood and life but I have also been able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my grassroots sisters.
‘Time Management’ is my favourite training module for many reasons – the topic is of universal interest; the games, tools and activities in this module are fun to conduct and participate in; and after implementing my learnings from this module I have completed my studies and today am working as a teacher.”
Ritikaben Chouhan
Dungarpur-Rajasthan
“Namaste! My name is Ritika Chouhan. I belong to Gamda Bamaniya Village, Dungarpur-Rajasthan. I am a member of SEWA since 2010 and follow the integrated approach.
It was the learnings from the ‘Virtual Platforms for Meetings and Trainings’ Training Program conducted by SEWA Manager Ni School which came to our rescue during the recent pandemic and enabled us to continue connecting with our sisters through virtual platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.
Earlier when we used to participate in virtual meetings over our smartphone our family members used to get irritated and complain – “You are always on the phone!” But when schools became online then our families realised the pluses of having someone trained in the house as it ensured that the education of our children continued uninterruptedly and more importantly it kept them engaged!
We could also participate virtually in the training provided by the ‘Pashu Vigyan Kendra’ (Animal Science Centre) and gain an understanding of how to keep our cattle safe from the coronavirus, arrange for their feed and immunisation etc.”
Shaheenben Baloch
Patan-Gujarat
“Namaste! My name is Shaheen Baloch and I belong to Radhanpur Village of Patan District. I am a member at the Banaskantha DWCRA Mahila SEWA Association-Patan.
I was recently a part of the Digital Financial Training being imparted by SEWA Manager Ni School. This was a six-day training program and for me the most important takeaway from the sessions was the importance of savings. Within one month of my completing the training, not only have I regularly started saving an amount of hundred rupees per month but I have also taken the lead in forming a Bachat Mandal (Savings Group) in my village with 12 women, each of whom saves an amount of INR 100 per month.
The training made me realize that saving regularly is important as it helps create a nest fund which can be used in case of any emergency in the family.”