VYASARPADI'S ‘AURA' TAILORED BY WOMEN

Free stitching classes run by the foundation set up by this 33-yr-old Chennaiite helped dozens of women earn a decent, regular income

- S GURUVANMIKANATHAN

THE whirring of a sewing machine isn't a lullaby for S Sheeladevi. The intricacies of putting together apparel, and hence a livelihood, are integral part of her tailor-made life. From the hemline of poverty to a life laced with independence, the resident of Sathyamoorthy Nagar in Vyasarpadi is among several women from the locality who continue to set a yardstick for themselves.

In March, Sheeladevi was one of the 45 women enrolled in a 45-day free tailoring course conducted by the Aura Foundation. Today, Sheeladevi and scores of other women from the area hold their heads high buoyed by the 300 to 400 that they bring home daily.

The gates of upliftment for these women were held open by C Moeson Moses, a social activist and founder of Aura Foundation. The 33-year-old Chennaiite was earlier associated with Don Bosco India, until last year when he established Aura.

During the 2015 floods and the Michaung cyclone, Moses was engaged in distributing relief materials in areas like Minjur. As a token of gratitude, the locals offered him 10 cents of land for free for the Aura Foundation. Moses plans on setting up a library on this parcel of land and is 1,500 books closer to achieving his dream.