A group of women are learning to stitch using sewing machines at the Hand in Hand India – NSDC training centre at Kancheepuram. Amidst all the chatter, Renuka works silently at her task. She is concentrating yes, but the silence is because Renuka is hearing and speech impaired. With no skills to her aid, she had taken to working as a house-help. Work was tough, the pay was less and her mason husband’s income was not enough for the family. The young mother of two has now become a sewing machine operator with the primary goal of getting out of housework. She now takes on small orders from companies who outsource tailoring orders. A machine and new skills saved the day for Renuka!