Ashwini hails from a small village in Maharashtra's Akola district where her father works as a welder and her mother as a farmer. Growing up, she witnessed her parents' relentless hard work as they supported their family of six despite financial challenges.

As the eldest of four siblings, Ashwini was often tasked with delivering her father’s lunchbox to his workplace. During these visits, she noticed the absence of women in welding. When she asked her father about it, he simply told her it was not a profession for women. 

This got Ashwini really curious and in the coming years, inspired her career choice. Determined to break gender barriers, she enrolled in a welding course at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI). As the only girl in a class full of boys, Ashwini recalls it being a tough start. Many people discouraged her, saying the course was “not meant for girls”. But her parents were her pillars of support, encouraging her to follow her passion and ignore the negativity. With their unwavering belief in her, Ashwini pushed through the difficulties and successfully completed the course.

After her ITI training, Ashwini furthered her skills by completing the CSTI course and even took up an apprenticeship with the Indian Railways. Despite her qualifications, however, she struggled to find a job. The reason? She was a woman in a male-dominated profession.

In 2022, a breakthrough came when one of Ashwini's friends, a welding trainer at Pratham, informed her about a job opening at their Skilling Centre in Ahmednagar. With a sense of hope, Ashwini applied and was offered the position of welding trainer. It was a turning point in her life. Since then, she has trained over 600 students, including 25 girls, helping them break stereotypes and pursue careers in welding.

Ashwini takes immense pride in sharing her knowledge of welding with her students and helping them learn a trade that can transform their lives. Her journey took another step forward when Pratham encouraged its staff to post videos on Instagram, showcasing the work they were doing. Ashwini took the advice and began sharing her story on social media, proudly identifying herself as “Welder Girl”. 

Looking ahead, Ashwini dreams of continuing her work as a welding trainer and gaining widespread recognition as “Welder Girl"—a symbol of empowerment and resilience. She also aspires to provide a better life for her family. 

Ashwini’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of support in overcoming barriers to achieve one’s dreams.

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