ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth

From a differently abled woman to an employee of a pharmacy

నా చిన్నతనంలోనే మా నాన్న మమ్మల్ని వదిలి వెళ్లి పోయాడు. నా చదువు కోసం ఖర్చు పెట్టే స్ధి తిలో మా అమ్మ లేకపోవడంతో నా పదవ తరగతి వరకు, నేను మా అమ్మమ్మ వాళ్లింట్లోనే పెరిగాను. ఈ కష్టాలు చాలవన్నట్లు , అకస్మాత్తు గా నా జీవితం అంధకారంగా మారిపోయింది. ఎలాగంటే, దురదృష్టవశాత్తు ఓ చోట పడిపోవడంతో నా వెన్నుముక పూర్తిగా దెబ్బతింది. రెండు కాళ్లకూ తీవ్ర గాయలయ్యాయి. నాకు శస్త్ర చికిత్స చేశారు. ఆరు నెలలు పూర్తిగా మంచానికే పరిమితమయ్యాను. కానీ, నా గాయమై తే నయం కాలేదు. చివరకు శారీరక వై కల్యం సంభవించింది. (I was abandoned by my father when I was a child and had to depend on my grandparents for my schooling till Standard X as my mother could not afford to financially support me. And then, suddenly, it was as if I was further plunged into a dark abyss as my spine was completely damaged and both my legs were fractured in a fall. A surgery and six months of bed rest failed to heal me completely and I developed a physical disability.)

My life took a dark turn after that as I went into severe depression. I spent three years staying at home without a cause for hope or cheer. That is when a relative told me about ICICI Academy for Skills. I underwent a counselling session, after which I took admission in its ‘Office Administration’ course. As luck would have it, I again fell and fractured my leg before joining the course. I was advised rest for two months and would have surrendered completely to depression but the course trainer spoke to me and gave me confidence to carry on with my course.

I went on to complete the course, which included training in communication skills, time management, and conversing in English language. I also developed confidence to face an interview board, which helped me get selected at a pharmacy having a network across the country. They also offered me a handsome salary. I will never forget the feeling of achievement I had on receiving my first salary. The pandemic taught me to appreciate my job and within six months, I had started reading prescriptions and giving medicines to customers. I also learnt billing and communicating with people.

ఇప్పుడు ఇంటి అద్దె బాధ్యతలు మరియు, ఇంటిలో ప్ర ధానమై న అవసరాలన్నీ నేనే తీరుస్తున్నాను. ఇదంతా ఐసిఐసిఐ అకాడమీ ఫర్ స్కిల్స్ వల్లసాధ్యమై ంది. అందుకు వాళ్లకు నేను ధన్యవాదాలు తెలుపుకుంటున్నాను. నాకు ఆరోగ్య సమస్యలు ఉన్నప్పటికీ నేను నా కుటుంబానికి మద్దతునందించగలుగుతున్నందుకు గర్వ పడుతున్నాను. స్వీయ సాధికారిత సాధించేందుకు ప్ర తి మహిళా తప్పని సరిగా ఉద్యోగం చేయాలి అని నేను బలంగా నమ్ముతున్నాను. (I can now take care of the house rent and all other major expenses, thanks to ICICI Academy for Skills. I am proud that I am able to support my family despite my health issues. I truly believe that every woman should work and stand on her own feet.)

From a migrant labourer to a skilled technician

मैं उत्तर प्रदेश के उन्नाव में रहने वाले एक किसान का बेटा राम सिंह हूं। मैंने अपनी बारहवीं कक्षा की पढ़ाई मुश्किल से ही पूरी की थी और इसके तुरंत बाद मुझे परिवार के खर्चों को पूरा करने में अपने पिता का हाथ बंटाने के लिए दिहाड़ी मजदूर बनने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ा। (I am Ram Singh, the son of a farmer in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. I had barely completed my Standard XII studies when I was forced to become a daily wage labourer to support my father in meeting the family expenses.)

It was a struggle meeting even the most basic requirements of the family. Therefore, I left my village in Unnao for Ludhiana (Punjab), where I took up a job of stitching curtains. A few months later, the pandemic struck and the factory where I worked closed down due to the lockdown. I returned to my village with other migrant labourers and started searching desperately for a new job.

I came across a video on ICICI Academy for Skills, which brought a bright ray of hope in my life. I registered myself online and soon got a call from the Lucknow Centre of the Academy. The officials briefed me about the courses and their potential. I decided to join the ‘Multi Skilled Technician’ course. I found the 54 days of training - 42 days of online classes and 12 days of practical classes - extremely useful to learn the nuances of a technician’s job.

जीवन का निर्णायक मोड़ - जब मुझे एक निश्चित वेतन और अन्य लाभों के साथ ऑटो एयर कंडीशनिंग सिस्टम से संबंधित एक अग्रणी निर्माता कंपनी के लिए चुना गया तो मैं बेहद उत्साहित था। जाहिर है, मैं अब अपने परिवार को आर्थिक रूप से सपोर्ट कर सकता हूं। पाठ्यक्रम ने आत्मविश्वास की उस भावना को भी मेरे भीतर एक बार फिर जिंदा कर दिया, जि से मैं अपनी पिछली नौकरी के साथ खो चुका था। मुझे यह अवसर देने और तकनीकी कौशल के साथ मुझे सशक्त बनाने के लिए मैं आईसीआईसीआई एकेडमी फॉर स्किल्स का आभारी हूं। (I was elated when I got selected by a leading manufacturer for auto air-conditioning systems with a fixed salary and other benefits. I am now able to support my family financially. The course has also restored the sense of confidence that I had lost with my earlier job as a curtain stitcher. I am grateful to ICICI Academy for Skills for giving me this opportunity and empowering me with the technical skill.)

From financial hardship to regular income

ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਨਿਮਰ ਪਿਛੋਕੜ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਹਾਂ। ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਜੀ ਇੱਕ ਫਾਸਟ ਫੂਡ ਹੌਕਰ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਪਰਿ ਵਾਰ ਦੇ ਇੱਕਲੌਤਾ ਰੋਟੀ ਕਮਾਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਨ। ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ ਦੀ ਸਿ ੱਖਿਆ ਚੰਗੇ ਅਕਾਦਮਿ ਕ ਰਿ ਕਾਰਡ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਪੂਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਲਜ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋ ਗਿ ਆ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਸਾਡੇ ਪਰਿ ਵਾਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਸਮੱਸਿ ਆਵਾਂ ਨੇ ਵਿਦਿ ਅਕ ਖਰਚਿ ਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਕਰ ਦਿ ੱਤਾ ਸੀ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਮੈਂ ਘਰ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਟਿ ਊਸ਼ਨ ਾਂ ਲੈ ਰਿ ਹਾ ਸੀ। (I belong to a very humble background. My father was a fast food hawker and the sole breadwinner of the family. I completed my senior secondary education with a good academic record and joined college. Our family’s financial problems, however, made it difficult to meet the educational expenses even though I was taking tuitions at home.

ਜਦੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਗਰੈਜ੍ ੂਏਸ਼ਨ ਪੂਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕਗਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਸੀ, ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਮੈਂ ਆਈ ਸੀ ਆਈ ਸੀ ਆਈ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸੋ ਜੂਨ 2021 ਵਿ ੱਚ ‘ਸੇਲਿ ੰਗ ਸਕਿ ੱਲਜ਼’ ਕੋਰਸ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਦਾਖਲਾ ਲਿ ਆ। ਮੇਰੇ ਮਾਪੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਕੋਰਸ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੇ ਜੱਦੀ ਸ਼ਹਿ ਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਭੇਜਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਡਰਦੇ ਸਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਮੈਂ ਕੋਰਸ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਿ ਆ, ਪਰ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਇੰਟਰਵਿ ਊ ਦੀ ਸਿਖ ਲਾਈ ਪ੍ਰਾਪ ਤ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੇ ਹੁਨਰ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਔਨਲਾਈਨ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਦੇ ਬੈਚ ਵਿ ੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋ ਗਿ ਆ। (I was on the verge of completing my graduation when I decided to join ICICI Academy and enrolled in the ‘Selling Skills’ course in June 2021. My parents were naturally apprehensive about sending me out of my hometown for the course. Hence, I could not join the course but later joined their online evening batch to get interview training and build my communication skills.)

ਕੋਰਸ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ, ਮੈਂ ਇੱਕ ਸੁਪਰਮਾਰਕਿ ਟ ਚੇਨ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰ ਮੁੱਖ ਵਜੋਂ ਬਤੌਰ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਸੋਸੀਏਟ ਮੰਡੀ ਗਬਿ ੰਦਗੜ ਵਿਖ ੇ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ। ਮੈ ਉੱਥੇ ਚੰਗੀ ਤਨਖ਼ਾਹ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਵੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹਾਂ। (After completing the course, I joined a leading supermarket chain at Mandi Gobindgarh as a Senior Associate. I am also very happy to receive a good salary.)

Finding my esteem in society

मेरी जिंदगी उस दिन बदल गई जब मेरे परिवार को पता चला कि मैं एक ट्रांसजेंडर हूं। एक फाइनेंस कंपनी में काम करने वाले मेरे पिता ने कभी मेरा साथ नहीं दिया। आज मैं जो कुछ भी हूं अपनी माँ की वजह से हूं। मेरी माँ ही मेरी ताकत हैं। (My life changed the day my family came to know that I am a transgender. My father, who works in a finance company, has never supported me. Whatever I am today is because of my mother. She is my source of strength.)

I am a graduate but I perpetually faced strong discrimination from everybody, my classmates, teachers, relatives, and others. The only exception has been my mother who does not discriminate against me. She always treats my two younger brothers and me equally. People used to say that I would never be able to do anything respectful. I always wanted to support my family financially but was unable to work, due to lack of skills, courage and financial issues. My mother runs a small cosmetics shop. I used to spend most of my time with her, in the shop.

I came to know about ICICI Academy at Jaipur from a friend. For the first time in my life, I felt happy and confident when I joined the Academy in Jaipur. I had never met people who were so respectful. They treated all the trainees equally. I learnt many technical and life skills. I used to look forward to the day-long practical classes where I learnt the most. It was because of the Academy, that I became an Assistant Beauty Therapist in my hometown. Finally, I was able to dream about becoming independent and successful.

मेरे ट्रेनर की मदद से, मुझे जयपुर के एक बहुत ही प्रतिष्ठित सैलून ब्रांड में नौकरी मिल गई और उन्होंने मुझे अच्छा वेतन देने की पेशकश की। कुछ समय बाद, मैंने उसी शहर में अपनी माँ की कॉस्मेटिक्स की दुकान में एक छोटा सा सैलून शुरू किया। अब मेरे पास कई ग्राहक हैं जो मेरे काम से संतुष्ट हैं। मेरी मां खुश हैं और उन्हें मेरी यात्रा पर गर्व है। अब, मेरा अगला लक्ष्य कुछ पैसे बचाना है और एक पॉश इलाके में एक बड़ा सैलून शुरू करना है और मुझे पता है, मैं बहुत जल्द ऐसा करूँगा। मेरे जीवन को बदलने के लिए आईसीआईसीआई अकादमी का शुक्रिया!(With the help of my trainer, I got a job in a very reputed salon brand in Jaipur and they offered me a handsome salary. Sometime later, I started a small salon in my mother’s cosmetics shop in the same city. I now have many clients who are satisfied with my work. My mother is happy and proud of my journey. Now, my next target is to save some money and start a big salon in a posh area and I know, I will do it very soon. Thank you ICICI Academy, for transforming my life.)