Monday Musings: Stories of Grit, Guts and Gumption 

Among such states, Bihar has often been labeled in the corridors of Delhi as one that thrives more on advertisements than on progressive policies.

However, a visit to Jamui—one of the newer districts of Bihar—a fortnight ago, in my capacity as Chairman of Jamui Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), one of the oldest and most popular skilling schemes of the Government of India aimed at empowering women and youth, proved to be an eye-opener.

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The certificate award program for 220 trainees, out of the 1,800 who were trained, was a tribute to the women of the district who had taken training from JSS to become self-employed. Their journeys—crossing rivers and beating time restrictions on movement imposed by extremists, known as Naxalites—were memorable and inspiring.

This also gave me the opportunity to visit some of the trainees like Komal Kumari, Geeta Devi, Jyoti Kumari, and Sangeeta Tiwari, who have been trained by the JSS team led by Director Anshumaan in Jamui and are now spreading the light for others to become self-reliant.

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One of them admitted that she was a postgraduate but knew that the degree alone would not get her a job. She therefore took up beauty parlour training and is now happily helping her husband run the family.

Another said she had lost her husband in 2025 but picked up the threads for the sake of her son and is now confidently carrying the torch forward.

There are areas in this district, on the border of Bihar and Jharkhand, where even men are afraid to step out after 5 p.m. because of the Naxal threat. Many of these dark pockets lack mobile towers, and connectivity is almost non-existent.

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Equally brave are the staff members of JSS Jamui, who travel to these villages to convince parents and prospective trainees to take up training for their own betterment.

As I participated in the certificate distribution program, I was happy to see that most of the women who had taken training in 17 courses—such as beauty parlour services, jewellery making, embroidery, and more—had become catalysts for spreading prosperity across their neighbourhoods and far-flung villages.

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Most speakers at the program stressed that mere graduation or postgraduate education does not guarantee employment unless accompanied by skill or hunar.

Hats off to these women for taking their destinies into their own hands, with full support from their families. After witnessing their thrill and joy, one can only suggest that to help these entrepreneurs gain more recognition and prosperity, their well-crafted products should be marketed in Delhi.

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Incidentally, the products made by inmates of Tihar Jail in Delhi are in high demand across the country and are also available online. It is therefore only natural to suggest that the products of JSS Jamui be showcased in the capital as well.

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Curated by Humra Kidwai