By Pritesh Kamble, Inclusion Unit -Head, CYDA
Supported by Intel
Shivshankar Dattatray Yemmewar, a resident of Urmi block in Nanded, belongs to the LGBTQIA community. From a very young age, he faced discrimination and social stigma in his village. People often called him with hurtful names like bayla, chakka, and meetha. These insulting words deeply affected his feelings and made him feel unwanted in society. At home, his family tried their best to protect him and give him comfort, but the pain of constant teasing from others was difficult to handle. The negativity around him caused sadness and emotional stress, but Shivshankar did not give up. With courage and determination, he continued to dream of living with dignity and proving that every person deserves respect and acceptance.
Despite completing his college education, Shivshankar’s dream of getting a good and dignified job did not come true. This became a big hurdle in his life and left him worried about his future. He soon realized that the opportunities available to him were very few because of the way society treated him. Instead of giving up, Shivshankar chose to take a bold step. He decided to create his own way and started a small tailoring business. With this decision, a new journey began. Even after starting his work, society did not stop. People continued to criticize him and speak badly behind his back. At times, these words hurt him deeply, but he ignored them and continued. He turned every challenge into an opportunity to become stronger, proving that courage and determination can build a brighter future.
A significant turning point came when Shivshankar’s friend, Gajanan, encouraged him to attend an entrepreneurship training program organized by the Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA). He learnt important business techniques such as customer service, financial planning, budgeting, savings, and profit and loss management. This structured training gave him the knowledge, guidance, and confidence he needed to shape his professional career. He purchased a new fall-pico tailoring machine with a financial grant of Rs. 10,000/- provided by CYDA. With this new support, his business gained momentum, efficiency improved, and the quality of his work significantly enhanced. As a result, his daily income increased from Rs. 800/- to Rs. 1,500/-. By empowering LGBTQIA individuals through training, mentorship and financial aid, the organization helped him transform a dream into a sustainable livelihood.
