Encouraging their employees to pursue further studies for a better future, the owners of a garment mill in Coimbatore felicitated its women workers who scored high grades in the recent Higher Secondary examinations
A private garment mill, KPR Textiles provides women students who do not have the financial resources to complete their education, a chance to work in the factory and study at the same time.
A garment worker and student, Aathilakshmi, who benefitted from this scheme and secured high grades, told camerapersons that she could study further only because her father availed this opportunity.
"My father works as a hotel employee, mother is a housewife. I had a good score in 10th grade exams, after that I couldn't study and then my father heard about this where we can study along with your work, that's why I got admitted here." said Aathilakshmi.
This opportunity to work and study was provided by the factory management as a means of helping those families who were struggling through a financial crisis and were unable to provide education to their daughters.
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Another high scorer, Sathya, echoed the words of her colleague.
"My family was really struggling and I couldn't study beyond 10th that is why I came here to work. After that I came to know that I can study along with my work so I joined for plus 2. My sister also studied plus 2 and graduated from here," gushed Sathya.
The exam toppers were felicitated with a cash reward of RS 50, 000 each for securing high marks. Most of the garment workers live in hostels to work and pay for their further studies.
Before joining the apparel industry, most of the girls are dropouts due to financial crises.
Situated on the outskirts of Coimbatore, the garment mill not only provides jobs to thousands of girls but also caters to their free education.
Hundreds of girls who work in the factory have been able to complete their university graduation and this year,in 2014, more that 95 % of them who wrote their higher secondary exam(plus 2) have scored more than 1100 marks out of 1200 marks.
Coimbatore is famous for its textile and apparel industry. Thousands of teenage girls from all over the state flock here to earn a livelihood to relieve their families of financial crisis.
