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
Air-cooled pushcarts to keep vegetables fresh for long
For vegetable hawkers who suffer losses due to deterioration in the quality of fruits and vegetables during summer, air-cooled pushcarts offer a simple cooling innovation to keep their produce fresh for longer periods.
Punjab farmer transforms trash into treasure
Gurmeet Singh from Burj Rathi village transforms discarded waste, especially old rubber slippers, into intricate works of art and toys, showing how garbage can be reimagined as a resource.
Rider cycles his way to reviving sustainable farming in Bihar
Rakesh Rider, a 48-year-old cyclist and agroecologist, is promoting sustainable farming through his initiatives Studio Saag and Bagmati Vidyapeeth, wherein he teaches students about natural farming, seed preservation and reducing agriculture costs.
Gandhian-era Bageshwari charkha gets a makeover after 90 years
The traditional foot-operated Bageshwari charkha, which has had the same design for nine decades, has got a technological revamp now, helping shepherds in the Himalayan region produce fine quality wool at a faster pace.
A village where farms and forests belong to everyone
The lands at Mendha Lekha village in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district are collectively owned, with the profits shared among all. This settlement of around 500 Gond tribe members tells a powerful tale of cooperation and shared prosperity.
Water revolution – Natural fibre tanks provide a low-cost storage solution
Innovative water tanks made from coconut, banana and flax fibre can transform water storage issues in drought-prone villages. The solution, developed by Jalvardhini, an NGO, and RuTAG IIT-Bombay, uses materials that are easily available and environmentally sustainable.
Cold storage units running on pico hydropower help farmers earn more
With limited transportation and no cold storage facilities, farmers in Himalayan states sell their produce at the local market for a low price. Cold storage units powered by pico hydropower offer a cost-effective solution.
These small industries are bringing big changes in villages
There are several small industrial projects that are lighting up the rural economy in unusual ways. This ‘Small Industry Day’, which is observed on August 30 every year, we revisit some of the initiatives featured on Village Square.
Lifting hopes: A homegrown solution to save ill cows
In rural India, a simple yet ingenious cattle lift developed by IIT Bombay promises to revolutionise veterinary care, coming as a boon for dairy farmers by helping cows suffering from ‘downer syndrome’.