By Puja Matre, Gender Expert, Sambhaji Nagar, CYDA
Supported By Bajaj Finserv
Swati Diptesh Thorat, a young woman from Sinnar, Nashik, comes from a middle-class family. Her father works as a security guard, while her mother supports the family through tailoring. When her father’s health declined, Swati and her mother took over household responsibilities. Despite the hardships, she remained committed to her dreams and kept pursuing her education.
A new chapter after marriage
At 18, Swati married and started her new life with her extended family at Sambhaji Nagar. Instead of the typical worries many young women face as they settle into a new household, she was welcomed with affection and kindness. Her mother-in-law became her primary source of support and guidance.
Swati’s mother-in-law had faced many struggles in her own life. Married at a very young age, she lived through difficult times because of her husband’s alcoholic habits and family disputes. Despite emotional pain and financial struggles, she stood firm. In 2009, she decided to change her life and joined the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women Development Foundation. There, she started working for women’s empowerment and children’s education. Her courage and determination inspired many, including Swati. She always said to her daughter-in-law, “You should never live the kind of life I did. You must be independent.”
Transformation
Encouraged by her mother-in-law’s strength, Swati decided to build her own career. She joined the soft skills and hard skills training program conducted by Centre for Youth Development and Activities. At first, Swati was shy and not comfortable. She had never worked outside before and did not know how to interact confidently with people. But the training sessions changed her perspective. CYDA’s trainers helped her learn communication skills, teamwork, and discipline. The practical sessions taught her how to handle housekeeping work with professionalism and pride.
After completing her training, Swati was selected as a Housekeeping Supervisor at A.S. Club Hotel, with a monthly salary of Rs. 13,000/-. It was her first job, and she was proud to contribute to her family’s income. Her mother-in-law helped her manage household chores so that she could focus on her work. Today, Swati is a confident, independent young woman. She now helps other women in her community understand the importance of financial independence and education. Swati proudly says, “Because of CYDA’s training and my mother-in-law’s support, I believe in myself. I can now take care of my family and plan for a better future.” The story of Swati and her mother-in-law proves that empowerment begins at home. When women support each other, they create stronger families and stronger communities.
