Empowering SC/ST Women Through Tailoring: TAHDCO’s School Uniform Stitching Initiative in Tamil Nadu

Empowering SC/ST Women Through Tailoring: TAHDCO’s School Uniform Stitching Initiative in Tamil Nadu

In a heartening example of how government schemes can uplift communities, over 2,800 women entrepreneurs and self-help group members from SC/ST communities in Tamil Nadu have found an additional source of income through a school uniform stitching initiative spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Development Corporation (TAHDCO).

Every year, students enrolled in schools under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department are provided four sets of free uniforms. While the initiative itself supports education, it’s the behind-the-scenes stitching work that is helping transform lives—especially those of marginalized women.

Tailoring Hope: Livelihood Through Uniforms

To handle the massive demand of 2.51 lakh uniforms, TAHDCO has roped in women entrepreneurs who have previously availed of loans under its economic development schemes, along with self-help groups (SHGs) trained in tailoring. The Tamil Nadu Textile Corporation supplies the raw materials, and TAHDCO’s district offices handle the allocation of stitching work.

Tailors then visit schools to measure students and deliver the stitched uniforms within a span of about 45–50 days—a brief but highly profitable season for these women.

From Garment Worker to Entrepreneur: Manimegalai's Story

S. Manimegalai, 41, from Senthamangalam in Namakkal district, is a shining example of the program’s impact. Formerly employed in a garment factory, she transitioned to entrepreneurship with TAHDCO’s support. In 2022, she received a ₹5 lakh loan, including a ₹1.5 lakh subsidy, and expanded her tailoring unit from 4 to 15 sewing machines, creating jobs for 15 local women.

“While uniform stitching is seasonal, lasting only 45 to 50 days, it yields what we usually earn in six months. We earn ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 a month during this period, which is more than double our usual monthly income,” says Manimegalai.

Building Together: Sangeetha’s Self-Help Group

K. Sangeetha, a member of the Sri Muthumariamman Women Self-Help Group in Vaniyambadi, Tirupathur district, shared a similar success story. She began with a single sewing machine and irregular income from household tailoring.

Everything changed after availing a ₹7 lakh TAHDCO loan, which included a ₹2.1 lakh subsidy. Today, her group owns 15 machines and experiences a boost in income during the school uniform stitching season.

A Win-Win Model for Welfare and Employment

Tailors under this program are paid ₹300 per set for girls’ uniforms and ₹200 for boys’ uniforms. For many, this is not just a job—it’s a pathway to economic independence, skill utilization, and dignity of labor.

For 2025, the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned ₹6.54 crore towards the program, reinforcing its commitment to empowering marginalized communities.

Final Thoughts

This uniform stitching initiative is more than just a public procurement exercise—it’s a grassroots empowerment model. By integrating social welfare with livelihood generation, Tamil Nadu is showing how inclusive economic development can be practically implemented.

Programs like these demonstrate how targeted support, when implemented with community involvement, can bring lasting change to the lives of women from SC/ST backgrounds—ensuring they’re not just beneficiaries of welfare but active contributors to the economy.