The story of Priyanka Paswan Jain, a resident of Delhi, serves as an inspiration to all who have experienced setbacks in life yet refused to succumb to despair. After her dream of becoming an IAS officer did not come to fruition, Priyanka experienced a period of depression. However, the guidance of her husband provided her with a fresh perspective, and she has since blossomed into a successful entrepreneur. Not only has Priyanka transformed her own life, but she is also dedicated to empowering many other women. Let’s read her remarkable story.

Facing UPSC failures 

Priyanka Paswan hails from a small village in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. In the year 2009, she relocated to Delhi, driven by her ambition to become an IAS officer. Over the following years, she diligently prepared for the UPSC exam, investing countless hours into her studies. Between 2009 and 2013, she attempted the exam four times, but unfortunately, success eluded her. These continuous failures had a profound impact on her self-esteem, eventually leading her into a state of deep depression.

Support from husband

During this difficult period, Priyanka's husband emerged as a crucial source of support in her life. He motivated her by suggesting that if she aimed to serve society, becoming an IAS officer wasn't the only option; she could also create an impact by working with an NGO. His words resonated deeply with Priyanka, inspiring her to embrace his advice and consider alternative avenues for contributing to society.

Starting an NGO 

Between 2015 and 2016, Priyanka, alongside her husband, established an NGO dedicated to empowering women and promoting self-reliance. Recognising that many women in society face financial difficulties and struggle to assert their identities, she set out to create employment opportunities for them. Priyanka launched courses in tailoring, embroidery, and beauty services, providing invaluable skills that could help these women secure a brighter future.

Empowering women

Priyanka's NGO provides training in skills such as tailoring, embroidery and more. While similar courses can be expensive elsewhere, her organisation offers them for just Rs 300. To date, 40 batches of women have benefitted from this training, and many have gone on to earn a good income by opening their own beauty parlours. Some women are also generating income by doing tailoring and embroidery work from the comfort of their homes.

Funding

Despite her NGO not receiving any financial support from the government, Priyanka remains undeterred. She is actively seeking funding for her organisation so that she can assist even more women and children. Priyanka firmly believes in the importance of self-reliance and advocates for starting with one’s own resources rather than depending on government support for social services.

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