Kottayam: The stitching machine was as soon as merely a way to be taught a ability. At the moment, for 3 Catholic nuns residing in a convent in Kuravilangadu in Keralam, it has develop into a instrument of survival, independence and maybe, most significantly, a solution to reclaim their lives.
Years after one in every of them accused former Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of rape and launched into a authorized battle that drew nationwide consideration, she and two fellow nuns who stood by her have been dealing with a special sort of problem — making a residing on their very own phrases.
Their reply is a small however rising clothes enterprise, which they’ve named ‘Stand By Me’.
“We began it out of necessity. The tailoring we had learnt up to now has now develop into a way of livelihood for us,” the nun who raised allegations towards the bishop, informed the media on Thursday.
Meals, clothes and medicines price cash, she stated, including that when monetary assist was not out there, the three determined that incomes their very own livelihood was the best way ahead.
“We’d like cash for meals, garments and medicines. When these issues have been denied to us, we determined to work and earn for ourselves,” she stated.
The enterprise started modestly, with orders coming principally from folks identified to them. Inspired by the response, they’ve now determined to broaden it and attain a wider market.
“We now have determined to take it ahead on a bigger scale. There are various individuals who have stood by us, and it was they who urged the title ‘Stand By Me’,” she stated.
Inside a month, the nuns hope to take their merchandise to the net market as effectively.
Their journey in direction of monetary independence, nonetheless, started at a very troublesome level.
In 2023, their monetary help on the Convent have been stopped, leaving them questioning how they’d meet even their fundamental wants.
“We puzzled how we might survive with out even a penny in our palms,” the nun recalled.
Two of the nuns, who maintain MSW levels, tried searching for internships. However alternatives proved troublesome to seek out on account of their connections with the authorized case.
“That was once we understood that getting a job was not simple. So, we wished to do one thing that no one may take away from us,” she stated.
With the assistance of their well-wishers, they obtained stitching machines and began reviving their previous tailoring expertise to eke out a brand new livelihood.
Their work has since grown past just a few orders. They make nighties, churidar tops, co-ord units, luggage, desk mats and runners, and have additionally employed two staff.
In addition they efficiently carried out exhibition gross sales in Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram with the assist of well-wishers.
For the three nuns, ‘Stand By Me’ is greater than a model title. It’s a reminder of the individuals who stayed beside them when the street was troublesome, and of their very own dedication to face on their toes.
Solely three of the 5 nuns who had stood collectively in assist of the survivor stay on the Kuravilangadu convent at current. The opposite two have since left non secular life.
In January this 12 months, the Kerala authorities issued ration playing cards to them after coming to learn about their plight.
Mulakkal, who was acquitted by an area court docket in 2022 within the rape case, later resigned as Jalandhar Bishop. The nun later challenged the trial court docket verdict earlier than the Kerala Excessive Courtroom.
