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
Another brick in the wall: The story of a brick-making village
In a village in the periphery of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, where brick kiln workers toil hard, difficult circumstances force their children to forego education, ending in a cycle of hardships across generations
Meet the last alchemists of Agaria tribe, forging iron from stones
The Agaria tribe’s legacy of turning ‘kaleji patthar’ stones into high-grade iron is kept alive by this uncle-nephew duo from rural Madhya Pradesh, who use traditional methods passed down through generations.
Pandemic-spurred self-help group is making huge strides in Punjab
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veerpal Kaur from Sem Kalan village founded Shagun Ajivika, selling handmade traditional items, and the group now includes over 15 women who make products that celebrate Punjab’s legacy.
Kesar mangoes travel from Nashik’s tribal farms to US supermarkets
Tribal farmers of Nashik in Maharashtra have revolutionised mango cultivation, boosting productivity, while access to organic certification and international markets has led to successful exports of the kesar variety to the US.
Odisha delivery agent seeks support to continue MBBS
Despite facing financial challenges, the determination of Hebal Pradhan, who hails from a remote village in Odisha, to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor has ignited a wave of support from his community, his medical college and well-wishers.
Solar power a money-spinner for women spinning eri silk yarn
Spinning eri silk yarn – though tedious and time-consuming with a traditional tool – is a way of life for women in Meghalaya. Using solar-powered spinning machines, they now spin more yarn and earn more.
Purulia farm transforms barren land into green oasis
Breathing new life into the arid, red soil and the souls of its people, this agricultural venture has transformed into a catalyst for community empowerment and ecological restoration in West Bengal’s Purulia district.
How women are taking care of livestock health in UP
With veterinary clinics being miles away, livestock healthcare was difficult for villagers in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. Trained women pashu sakhis now treat goats locally, getting financially independent and empowered in the process.
Blacksmiths show an iron will in this MP village
Faced with dwindling sales, blacksmiths in Kala Dumar village of Jabalpur are looking at giving a contemporary touch to their products to get good prices and also engage their future generation in the skill-based ancestral practice.