Rehana’s Conquests: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities
Rehana, born and raised in Santosh Nagar, New Delhi, is a skilled home-based tailor. She dedicates her time to stitching beautiful clothes for children, and while Rehana diligently works on creating dress materials, her husband takes on the responsibility of selling their products at various biweekly markets. Unlike many street vendors who face fixed expenses for setting up their shops, Rehana’s husband opts for hawking, allowing them to save on these costs, but it also presents its own set of challenges. There are days when Rehana’s husband struggles to sell even a single product, resulting in a loss of their meagre daily income of INR 500–700.
Speaking about their financial struggles, Rehana shared, “I prefer not to go outside and sell. In our community, women typically either stay at home as housewives or support their husbands through home-based work, like I do. When my husband fell ill, we had no income as he was the sole earner. During that difficult time, we had to borrow money from relatives and friends to cover basic medical expenses.”
It was during this challenging period that Rehana came across the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, thanks to the dedicated field staff of Upfront and Nav Srishti, an on-ground partner of Upfront. Through the community camps focused on social protection schemes that were conducted, Rehana learned about the government of India’s subsidised health insurance programme. This scheme promised to provide quality medical care free of charge to families like hers that were struggling financially. As soon as she became aware of it, Rehana wasted no time reaching out to the team to enrol herself and her family in the scheme. Reflecting on the impact of this initiative, she shared, “If it hadn’t been for this timely intervention, I might still be burdened by high medical expenses, delaying access to quality treatment for my family.”
Rehana also revealed that she is part of a self-help group consisting of 15 women who contribute INR 100 each month to a collective pool. This pool is intended to help them deal with smaller, everyday emergencies. Rehana’s experience has sparked a desire within her to enhance her financial planning abilities. She aspires to become more skilled at saving and borrowing in order to improve her family’s financial health. Her ultimate goal is to establish her own beauty shop, where she can increase their household income without having to leave the comfort of her home.
Rehana’s story is one of sparking change and determination. Despite the challenges they faced, she and her husband found ways to navigate their financial struggles and seek support through social protection schemes. By raising awareness about available resources and providing access to subsidised health insurance, organisations like Nav Srishti and Upfront empower individuals like Rehana to overcome financial hurdles and secure a better future.
Rehana’s journey serves as an inspiration to others facing similar circumstances, reminding us all of the transformative power of knowledge and support. As we continue to strive for a more inclusive society, it is crucial to ensure that everyone has access to essential knowledge and information, allowing them to lead healthier, more stable lives.
