Women empowerment is lovely to talk of. What’s excellent is to implement it. Teyakora Janaki Devi has done just that. Her story is most relevant to the current day and age. Today, women need empowerment more than anything else. How did Janaki Devi get the inspiration to be a role model? Her story is all about that.
Having lived a life of hardships, Janaki Devi talks about how life took a 360-degree turn after her father passed away. She was only seven when this happened. Janaki Devi was too naïve to understand the cause then, but it significantly impacted her when she understood. He had committed suicide after being cheated in business. The incident suddenly pushed Janaki Devi and her family into difficulties after living comfortably till now.
No Trace Of Women Empowerment
Her mother struggled to bring three children up – Janaki Devi, her elder brother, and her younger brother. It was a time when her mother was far from women’s empowerment. Janaki Devi was told that she couldn’t study as much as her brother did. Janaki Devi faced every challenge that came her way. She viewed every problem as God’s test of her endurance. Maybe that’s why nothing could break her. Luckily for her, Janaki Devi’s aunt (mother’s sister) supported her family a lot despite facing domestic violence herself. It became an inspiration to her very early in life.
An Ideal Family
As you may have guessed from the story so far, Janaki Devi was proceeding towards an ideal women empowerment life. When it was time for her to get married, she found an ideal man. One wanted to marry her for who she is and not for the dowry she will bring home. Janaki Devi proudly speaks of how supportive her husband and his family have been. Janaki Devi describes her life as a comfortable one post marriage. Her husband’s business was flourishing. The couple had moved to Hyderabad and had a girl, and everything seemed perfect. It was a small happy family.
Fighting Hardships
It was as if fall had to come after rising. Janaki Devi’s husband experienced a significant loss in his business. A time came when Janaki Devi could put her skills to use. While studying, she had learned to stitch blouses and other clothes for women. Interestingly, Janaki Devi learned a six months course in just one month. Only someone as powerful as her can think of women empowerment. Even in her financial crisis, Janaki Devi thought of a business that would help her and others. She took a shop and offered to teach people to stitch their clothes. Janaki Devi faced a lot of criticism for taking this up. However, the brave lady did not get discouraged by this.
It took a lot of effort to make things work. She got a loan with one lakh security and started a shop to earn money while teaching other women to be independent. The business was such a success that she could buy two plots in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad. Her husband, on the other hand, had bought one. Things were back on track again. Janaki Devi’s husband and her brother started a City Cable business together. It didn’t run well, and again the family had to sell all their property to make up for the loss incurred.
The deteriorating state of life pushed Janaki Devi’s husband towards the idea of suicide. History seemed to be repeating itself. He wanted to commit suicide with his entire family. With all the willpower that Janaki Devi has, she couldn’t allow such a thing. She talked her husband out of the idea and encouraged him to start afresh while she supported him. In 1998 Janaki Devi returned to her native Vijayawada along with her family. After reaching here, the first thing she did was clear all her debts from the money she got by selling properties. She and her family were ready to start from scratch.
A Beginning Of Women Empowerment
Janaki Devi went door-to-door to teach stitching. Not only this, she even took orders from people and delivered beautiful dresses. Slowly, she put up a shop where people could buy dresses and learn how to stitch their clothes. Slowly, but surely things were getting better for Janaki Devi and her family.
She was on her way to becoming a great example of women’s empowerment. With the business settled, Janaki Devi wanted a house of own. Those days it was easier for government employees to secure a loan. When her brother refused to support her for this, she consulted a bank manager. On the advice of the bank manager, Janaki Devi got herself and her husband PAN Cards and secured a loan of 4 lakhs.
Achievement Through Women Empowerment
Janaki Devi was now living a dream of having a house of her own. Even today, she has the bank cheque displayed on her wall so that she and the world can never forget how hard it is to turn a dream into reality. As Janaki Devi’s life progressed, so did her zeal for women’s empowerment. She joined an NGO called the Basavataraka Mahila Mandali. It was established in 1993 but was not upgraded. The organization was in a neglected state when Janaki Devi took its responsibility in 2006.
She improved the NGO and helped a lot of women as she hoped to. She had trained 750 women in tailoring. The world around her started noticing her efforts towards women’s empowerment. Janaki Devi’s interviews were published in newspapers. News of her activities was reaching people. She learned that an NGO is more successful in securing support from the government. This knowledge helped Janaki Devi secure jobs for 300 women in three districts through the Rajiv Udyoga Sthri program by the then-state government. Basavataraka Mahila Mandali received the best NGO award from the central government, making its members proud.
Unstoppable Progress
In 2008, Janaki Devi established the Abhaya Education Society. It is not an ordinary school or college. It is as unique as Janaki Devi and her ideas. Abhaya Education Society is a place where women, whether educated or otherwise, learn life skills. Ever since its establishment, the organization has been on the path of progress. In 2012, the organization helped rural women with skill development through the NABARD program. So far, Janaki Devi’s organization has helped 2000-3000 women. Their support didn’t stop at training. Abhaya Education Society helped women market their products at exhibitions on Woman’s Day and other relevant places.
Recognizing the organization’s work, NABARD gave it the responsibility of the Farmers Producers’ Company. It is an arrangement to help farmers get better facilities for selling their produce, buying fertilizers in a group, or securing a group loan. On July 21, 2016, Janaki Devi established the Ramakoti SHG Women Farmers Producers Company, which helps farmers sell their produce for a deserving price without mediators.
She named her NGO after her father, and Janaki’s daughter is the Managing Director of this company, sharing her mother’s social responsibility. The NGO has 612 women whose products reach customers through Zomato and Swiggy.
After achieving her dream to help women, she says she has been successful personally and professionally. Her daughter has completed her MBA and is married to a medical record officer. Janaki Devi has two beautiful grandchildren. At 53, this brave lady hopes to take women’s empowerment to the next level. Her idea is to establish a single women’s protection home for all the deserted, divorced, or widowed women.
Such women can enjoy free food and shelter while making a life for themselves and their children. Janaki Devi gives all the credit for her success to her family, especially her husband. Apart from a great family, Janaki Devi is blessed with beautiful friends who she can always count on. Usha Rani, Saroja, and Bhramara are the three people she goes to for refreshment from life’s stress. They are her home away from home in Hyderabad. Janaki Devi is a staunch believer of destiny and strong opposition to suicide. She believes everything should be taken as a challenge.
A Lesson Learnt
Social service or women empowerment is not a bed of roses. Janaki Devi learned this the hard way. There was a Muslim girl who worked in Janaki Devi’s shop. She had fallen in love with a married auto driver. To deliver justice to the auto driver’s first wife, Janaki Devi amicably separated these two people.
Unfortunately, the Muslim girl was already pregnant. Unable to take the embarrassment, the girl committed suicide. In her suicide note, she made it clear that Janaki Devi was nowhere concerned with what happened. This incident left a deep impression on the lady, and she knew that she must be cautious when stepping forward to help someone. Despite this, Janaki Devi supported the girl’s sister’s wedding.
Endless Inspiration
Janaki Devi’s plan after death is also very contemporary and empowering. She has told her daughter to donate her body to the hospital, such that it is helpful to medical students. Janaki Devi wishes to continue empowering as many women as possible with her actions. It is her goal as long as she lives.
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