Rural India is home of the original gig-economy worker. Enterprising villagers hop from tilling fields to tending shops, to door-to-door selling each day. Read the latest trends in micro-enterprises, rural start-ups and the shifting livelihoods of India’s villagers.
Livelihoods
Kerala women brew cups of joy with artisanal coffee
A coffee brand created by five women from Pinavoorkudi tribal village in Kerala has grown to become a trusted and favourite blend of beans.
Reviving Pattu-weaving in Barmer thread by thread
Young weaver Kheta Ram and his group are preserving Pattu weaving, by crafting fabrics steeped in history and creating a market for this traditional art.
Border tourism boosts Keran village
Standing on the banks of the roaring Kishanganga river, Keran has become a new tourism sensation in J&K bringing both hope and fortune to the villagers.
A secret beach where Goans party
Situated between the Arabian Sea and the rugged Sahyadri mountains in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, Shiroda is a tranquil, unspoiled getaway, far from the typical tourist hustle and bustle.
The journey of Kerala’s Chalakudy river
This Rivers Day, explore Chalakudy River, central Kerala's life source, as it journeys for 130 km -- from serene Anaimalai Hills to the Arabian Sea, nurturing lush landscapes and livelihoods.
‘Helicopter cars’: Bihar mechanic turns cars into ‘choppers’
Bored during the pandemic lockdown in 2020, a mechanic and his two brothers in Bihar’s Saran district started converting cars into helicopter raths (chariots), which are now a craze during weddings.
Punjab’s daughters revive its cotton weaving tradition
In a remarkable resurgence, 27 women, guided by Rupsi Garg and supported by her Trinjan project, rekindle Punjab’s fading art of spinning and weaving cotton products, gaining financial independence and a deep sense of happiness.
Sustainable farming: Kerala village women sow seeds of change
Women in Wayanad district of Kerala are conserving native varieties of vegetable seeds, ushering economic prosperity and ensuring sustainable agriculture.
Watermelon brings prosperity to grape village in Kashmir
In Kashmir’s Batwina village, watermelon farming is more than a mere agricultural endeavour — it’s a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and empowerment, showcasing how innovation can redefine the course of livelihoods in unexpected ways.