It's not an easy task for them but they make it happen

When life turned upside down, these women fought against all odds to restart their lives. It was not an easy task though as they had to wage a lone battle.

But their determination to lead a dignified life made these women stand out.

On the eve of the International Widows Day observed on June 23, three women from different walks of life share with The Hans India how their ability to turn adversity into opportunity helped them in shaping their future better.

Setting a trend

Her necessity to clear the debts and bring up her only son made S. Narasa Lakshmi become the city's first woman auto-rickshaw driver.

When she lost her alcoholic husband in 2013, little did she know that she had to lead fundamentally a different life.

Twelve months down the line, Lakshmi, a resident of Gnanapuram, decided to put an end to her debt-ridden sari business and pick up the nuances of auto-rickshaw driving to feed her son.

"Initially, it was quite difficult as I don't even know how to ride a bicycle.

However, my sister Aruna inspired me to learn the art of driving when we came to know about a Guntur-based woman driving the three-wheeler through a reality show," she recalls. It was just the beginning of a long journey for Lakshmi.

Today, Lakshmi manages her finances deftly that caters to repaying her vehicle loan, clearing old debts, maintaining her house and funding her son Nikhil's education.

She inspires many lonely women to follow suit. Her passengers dearly call her 'Akka' (sister).

An entrepreneurial journey

R Uma Maheswari was 33 years old when her husband passed away. When her in-laws closed the door for her, she had no other choice but to seek her parents' support to educate her two school-going kids.

Few months later, her love for art and craft made her tread an entrepreneurial path. "It started with making tinted terracotta lamps and supplying them to various shops.

Since it did not fetch much throughout the year, I decided to set up a shop at Nakkavanipalem and supply snacks and soft drinks along with other stuff.

Fortunately, I could retain my independence as my friends and parents came forward to extend support and fund my children's education," she narrates.

Life was too harsh for Uma as her in-laws abused her when she knocked their door for help. "It was the toughest phase of my life.

However, I looked at all possible ways to come out of the murky scenario to retain my dignity as I want to set an example for my daughters," reasons Uma.

Riding her way

When S Rajeswari's husband died of a massive heart attack, she had no idea what life had in store for her.

With a grown-up son to take care of, she was quick enough to pick up the pieces to rebuild her lost strength. "The only skill I know is driving. With an investment of Rs.1 lakh funded by my father, I started to provide training to women to ride a two-wheeler.

Since my husband used to encourage me to be independent, I am now empowering many women with the expertise that I am adept at," she says with a tinge of satisfaction.

For those who lead a similar life like her, Rajeswari suggests never to lose hope and accept life as it unfolds.