Women empowerment
Dalit woman leads fellow caste villagers to land ownership in Punjab
Charanjit Kaur and other Dalit families from Gharachon village in Sangrur district won the right to bid for reserved panchayat land, despite systemic caste barriers and police action.
Sparking change: How one woman’s dreams lit up an MP village
In rural Madhya Pradesh, Lakshmi Warakade’s transformation from a struggling farm worker to a successful electrician's assistant demonstrates the power of opportunity, determination and community support in breaking the cycle of poverty and inspiring others.
Claiming the streets: SHGs, women and public spaces
In rural India, women are boldly reclaiming public spaces through self-help groups (SHGs) and collectives. These gatherings are transforming village dynamics, challenging patriarchal norms and enabling economic empowerment.
A heartful of handloom in Maheshwar
From a sleepy hamlet with struggling weavers to a bustling town known for sarees, it’s taken many years for Maheshwar to appear on India’s handloom map. Sally Holkar, known for reviving the sector, tells us about her journey.
‘A woman’s life is similar to that of the land’
A woman’s existence has been poisoned by violence, just like land has been destroyed by chemical use, says social activist Abha Bhaiya. She tells us how at Jagori Rural, an NGO located in Himachal Pradesh, they try to heal both.
A beautiful initiative against the hungry waves
The Sundarbans delta has long faced a livelihood crisis due to several factors. Now, a unified programme incorporating technology has been initiated for the sustainable income of local women.
Hope mushrooms for these women of flood-prone Barpeta
A few months ago, four brave women from the Bodo tribe in Assam's Barpeta district started a mushroom farm, bringing hope and empowerment to their flood-prone, poverty-stricken village.
How a sarpanch led the facelift of his Gujarat village
Suresh Chhanga of Kunariya gram panchayat in Kachchh district has ushered a transformation in his village, with a focus on safe water and sanitation services, demonstrating how villages can lead in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Her producers’ group helps this Assamese farmer earn more
Somina Khatun followed conventional practices of farming. After becoming a member of a self-help group and subsequently a farmer producers’ group, she learned about sustainable ways of farming that boosts her yields and income.
Women wedding photographers click in Kashmir
More brides are finding comfort in being clicked by female photographers on their big day. Village Square meets two of them.
Tribal girls are kicking conventional norms through football
The defiant all-women football team in rural West Bengal is winning hearts for their skills and resilience, and also bridging the gender divide.
Fostering menstrual health and women’s empowerment in rural India
Providing education, affordable products and fostering a supportive environment can go a long way to empower women and girls, and break taboos around menstrual health.
Rural women breathe easy in the kitchen, thanks to biogas
Women in UP’s Bahraich district regularly faced breathing problems and watery eyes when they used wood-fired stoves for cooking. But now biogas produced from cow dung has made cooking easier, faster and cheaper.
Fashion influencer Nancy Tyagi’s journey from Barnawa to Cannes
“Mehnat kabhi waste nahi jaati,” (hard work never goes to waste) says Nancy Tyagi, the Indian influencer from a village in Uttar Pradesh who is winning hearts at the 77th Cannes film festival.
This Bengal woman shows there’s money in honey
Chaya Mondal of Tripura Nagar village in West Bengal defied gender norms and took to beekeeping after helping the men in her family rear honeybees. She now runs a successful business through the sale of honey and related products.
Lado Pustakalaya: Women’s village library nurtures dreams of aspiring scholars
In Sarsod village of Haryana’s Hisar district, a library for women offers peace and uninterrupted study time, away from distractions and challenges at home.
I want to see girls stand up for themselves: ‘Skater girl’ Asha
From growing up in a tribal family in Madhya Pradesh to participating in a championship in China, Asha Gond has realised her dream. The ‘skater girl’ and her German mentor Ulrike Reinhard tell us about their journey and more.
Where school dropouts get to work in hospitals
Young women who had dropped out of school due to difficult circumstances get trained to work as nursing assistants, while also learning to develop a professional attitude at work.
Three generations, one melody: Meet Saas Bahu Ki Jodi
Geeta Parag, who forms the ‘Saas Bahu ki Jodi’, a trio of bhakti (devotional) singers along with her mother-in-law and daughter in Madhya Pradesh, overcomes social dictates and inspires young women and girls to embrace their musical heritage.
Growing chicks empowers women beyond financial gains
In rural Jharkhand, women seeking a way out of poverty get trained to start a small poultry business, and taste financial success and empowerment.