Maheshwari resides at Taramani, Chennai with her parents’, daughter and son. Devadharshini who is her daughter, doing class XII at Chennai Higher Secondary School, Taramani and her son is doing 9th standard in the same school.

When she was 19 years old, she got married and lived in a nuclear family. She did not go for any work and stayed at home itself. Her husband was the sole breadwinner of the family and she started her family life as a home maker with joy and dream like another young girl. Little did she know about the hardships in store for her. In the year of 2014, she lost her husband in a road Accident. After that she was alone and was worried about her future and her children’s future too.  Through one of her neighbours’ she got to know about a free tailoring course & that laid a strong foundation for what she is now. With little / no support from her own family members’, who were not in a position to take care of her economic needs. She also did not want to be a burden to anyone decided to join as a daily wager at a Tailor shop to assist the Tailor for just Rs.150 per day.

Kalanjiyam identified her as one of the most deserving beneficiaries of the Livelihood support and she also actively participated in the livelihood training programmes conducted through the Lighthouse project. 

Significance of teamwork and networking, customer relationship management and how to handle business account were some of the key areas she picked up during the Training programme. She always had the urge to think beyond and be unique in any work she took up. Kalanjiyam’s livelihood support she was provided with a motorized sewing machine, which enhanced her self-confidence and helped her to improve her skills in sewing. After she started tailoring she gained confidence and initiated run her own shop. Today she is independent and grateful for the livelihood training provided which enabled her to be a successful entrepreneur.

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