Livelihoods

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.

Jharkhand’s star millionaire farmers, up in the sky

Farming can be profitable and make farmers millionaires! To celebrate their “star” farmers, Transform Rural India (TRI) organised a Millionaire Farmers Breakfast at Mumbai’s favourite farm-to-table restaurant, Project Hum to celebrate Kisan Diwas (December 23).

Cultivating an ecological consciousness

Shunya, a permaculture farm that started over a decade ago, in Himachal’s Bir village embodies the vision of regenerative farming. Transitioning through many hands, it is now being cared for by farmer Jeewika Bhat and her initiative ‘Seeds and Deeds’, which aims to take it a step further.

From despair to dignity: Sonadei’s story of hope

Sonadei Nag’s journey from abandonment to empowerment showcases the transformative power of women’s collectives. Through SHG support, agriculture, and entrepreneurship, she overcame societal barriers to secure a future for her children, inspiring her entire community to thrive.

her life

The rise and rise of the rural consumer

What do you get when you combine rising disposable income, stronger purchasing power, internet connectivity and lifestyle aspirations? A hungry consumer. In this case, the rural Indian consumer who’s ushering in the next wave of growth.

her life

Chhapra’s Radio Mayur is a lifeline for the community

Abhishek Arun, founder and presenter of Radio Mayur, is empowering people in Chhapra through the radio in a digital era. His efforts are bearing fruit with about 200,000 people engaging with his station daily.

her life

He’s saving Tripura’s puppetry tradition, no strings attached!

Prabhitangshu Das, who heads the Tripura Puppet Theatre Group, is at the forefront of preserving the craft in his state. From making children smarter to creating social change, there’s much to be gained from puppetry, he believes.

her life

Rural women in Maharashtra get a taste of emancipation

Farm Didi, led by a mission to uplift women in rural Maharashtra, promises more than just delicious products. It leverages women’s expertise in food production to create high-quality, preservative-free products.

her life

Tripura’s “suitcase water purifier” is going places

Saving lives and plastic – a Tripura professor’s clever innovation is bringing safe drinking water to those stranded by disaster. The portable “suitcase water purifier” converts turbid flood water into mineral-rich drinking water.

her life

Nutty Village ensures Unnao’s farmers don’t get peanuts for groundnuts

Aman Kumar, a TISS graduate, returned to Unnao in Uttar Pradesh to create Nutty Village, a social enterprise focused on empowering smallholder farmers by transforming locally grown groundnuts into value-added products like peanut butter and energy bars.