Home i»i Artists i& iArtisans Noor Salma comes from a middle class background. She lost her parents within a year of each other when she was only nine years old. Her paternal relatives blamed her and said she was unlucky for her family. Deeply scarred, she experienced a need for vindication. She enrolled herself at the Regional Training Design Centre in Bangalore. Earning a stipend of Rs 80 she learned the craft of toy making. At the end of her training she was the proud owner of a power lathe machine and had a job at Cauvery Handicrafts in Channapatna. Her proactive nature enabled her get invited to the first Kala Madhyam Mela in 2000. Subsequently, Kala Madhyam gave her a loan, enabling her participate at all its multi – marketing initiatives. Today, Noor Salma is a fairly successful craftswoman working with Channapatna toy crafts. She runs an eight machine outfit, has initiated two self help groups of ten members each and supplies to a number of shops in Bangalore apart from Kala Madhyam.   The eldest in a family of four sisters and a brother, Bhagya was forced to drop out of school when her father - a slipper shop owner - suddenly died. She applied for training, to work with terracotta, at an NGO and after her course, worked with them for three years till the organisation closed down. She soon got married, and with her husband’s support invested Rs 3,000/- to start her own enterprise. She began to craft terracotta candle stands, sun mask jewellery and Ganesha statues. Her craft caught the attention of Desi - a forum for the upliftment of rural women, and they began to promote her products. A craftsperson informed her of Kala Madhyam where her products have been marketed since 2000. This has also enabled her to market directly to customers. Today, she supplies to three shops in Bangalore apart from all Kala Madhyam’s promotional ventures. Bhagya has also initiated a group of six women who earn a daily wage rate of Rs 100 – Rs 150 depending on the number of pieces they produce She says that her venture has enabled her sustain herself and supplement her family income by earning a steady monthly income. With her savings she got her three younger sisters married. Bhagya’s future plans include opening her own shop where she would train and employ other women like herself.