POSITION: Co-op Manager at Shramik Mahila Mandal Cooperative (SMM)
HER LEADERSHIP STYLE: "I like to do things perfectly. I
used to get upset if an artisan did not follow the rules or the schedule. I am still strict about the timeline, but have improved how I communicate."
BECOMING A LEADER: "I completed a two-year tailoring course but never used those skills. In 2015 when MarketPlace came to my area, I joined. After a year, the manager left and I
started helping with accounts. Before long, I was appointed the new manager and it was difficult! There was a lot of traveling to check the samples and fabric. I pushed forward and never said no."
CO-OP SUCCESS: In four years, SMM has repaid the initial loan taken to start the cooperative, has bought new machines, and
established a group savings program that has allowed them to distribute two large bonuses to members.
WIDER IMPACTS: "Earlier, we always worried about money. Now we are confident of our finances as a group. We celebrate birthdays and festivals, and even go out for picnics. We encourage family time and not working after
6:30 pm. I am extremely proud that we have achieved all this without any compromise on quality and delivery deadlines."
