“It was normal life for me as others. A happy family and a stable income. However, things changed drastically when we got to know that my husband has a very limited time left, as he was diagnosed with a major health issue. It took some time for me to get to terms with reality.

We were helpless, mainly because of financial constraints – I was naive and uneducated. I felt guilty for not being able to provide any kind of support and that’s when I took up the family responsibilities on my hands. I wanted to let him know that he wasn’t alone. I have made myself stronger.

Every day, I would get up at 5 a.m, cook for my family, give my husband his medicines, drop my daughters at school and start doing this work of fixing the shoes of broken heels, worn-out soles and knitting the wool clothes, until the late evening.

Unfortunately, my husband passed away after a few years. But I was prepared to take on the world by myself. I started running the business singlehandedly, managed to save some money, pay off all the existing loans and got my three daughters married to good families after high school education. Now they are running their own businesses along with their husbands. I had my share of ups and downs in life but I never lost hope and went ahead. I guess that’s what the well being of your family does – you feel invincible when it is their happiness on the line.

It’s been almost 32 years since I started working on my own and now, I can’t even imagine quitting this work. It is never an option and never going to be!”