Thingujam Dayamani Devi hails from Thoubal district in Manipur, where she grew up in a family of five. Her father, a small farmer, worked hard to provide for the family, while her mother managed the household with limited resources. As the eldest child, Dayamani always felt a deep sense of responsibility towards her family and dreamt of earning a stable livelihood that could improve their quality of life.

Although she was determined to build a better future, Dayamani struggled with low confidence and had very little exposure to the professional world. Speaking in front of others made her nervous and the thought of working in a customer-facing role seemed beyond her reach.

Her journey changed when she enrolled in the In-Store Demonstrator (ISD) Programme at the GMR Varalakshmi Center for Empowerment and Livelihoods (GMRVF-CEL), New Delhi after learning about it through a mobilisation drive conducted in Manipur. The centre not only provided free training, boarding and lodging but also equipped her with communication skills, customer service knowledge, workplace etiquette, personality development and confidence-building sessions.

With continuous mentoring and practical exposure, Dayamani gradually transformed into a confident and professional young woman, ready to take on new opportunities.

Her dedication and commitment earned her a placement with Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. as a Customer Service Executive at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. She received the highest salary package among candidates in her training batch and now earns ₹24,650 per month, enabling her to contribute significantly to her family's income.

Today, Dayamani's success has brought financial stability to her family and serves as an inspiration for many young women from rural and remote regions who aspire to build independent and successful careers.

Dayamani's journey demonstrates that when young people are provided with the right opportunities, quality skilling and encouragement, confidence becomes the bridge between aspiration and achievement.