Women empowerment
Acid attack survivor: I don’t want to hide my face
Kavita Bisht from Karnal village of Uttarakhand has overcome disfigurement and despair to become the state’s brand ambassador for women empowerment.
A tailor-made solution for women to stop brewing alcohol
Sheela Devi, who became an entrepreneur as a married teen, thanks to her tailoring skills, trains other women in her Jharkhand village so that they can quit brewing liquor and migrating for work.
Manipuri film ‘Andro Dreams’ dribbles past gender stereotype
Filmmaker Meena Longjam’s ‘Andro Dreams’ breaks the mould of sports films, offering a nuanced perspective on a Manipur village, challenging societal norms through the lens of an all-girls football team.
Tezpur’s artistry in motion
One of Assam’s oldest handloom enterprise is a small scale family run business, employing fifteen rural women who have been weaving their magic into the traditional looms for 35 years to create unique motifs in sarees and dress materials in Tezpur.
Kashmiri women navigate success in water chestnuts
Locally known as Singhara, water chestnuts grow naturally on the margins of Wular - one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. From harvesting the produce to selling, it is an industry run primarily by women.
Schoolgirls raise their voice successfully against prejudice
Recognising the strength of collective power, the girl students of a rural government school get their misogynistic teacher replaced, improve washroom facilities and inspire action in other schools.
Master strokes of a Mithila maestro
Manisha Jha, a passionate Mithila painter and architect dedicated to preserving tradition, talks about her journey, artistic roots and vision for sustaining the rich folk art of this region.
Kashmiri women influencers you need to follow
Women from rural Kashmir are challenging societal norms, one social media post at a time, in an inspiring wave of digital change sweeping through the region.
Copperware carves way for Kashmir women’s empowerment
Defying gender barriers, young women are training to be coppersmiths in Kashmir and working towards making their mark in a male-dominated craft sector to ensure social and financial empowerment.
A widow becomes sarpanch at 80, busting ageism myths
Widowed young, Fatah Begum became a labourer to feed and educate her eight children. With a firm belief in women’s contribution to nation-building, she became a sarpanch at 80, busting myths about gender and age.
A rural woman’s ‘toy story’ towards success
An accidental brush with a training programme turns an unlettered rural woman into an entrepreneur who now runs a soft toy business in Rajasthan. She now earns Rs 30,000 per month and employs 12 women.
Book Review: The Indian Village by Surinder S. Jodhka
Published by Aleph Book Company, the book chronicles socioeconomic changes in Indian villages through interesting anecdotes.
The need for digital empowerment of rural women
India's digital landscape is booming, especially in rural areas, with significant growth in internet usage and digital payments. However, a gender-based digital divide persists, hindering women's empowerment.
4 Badass rural women who made history
From changing sexual harrassment laws to growing trees at the age of 112 – these rural women have contributed to significant impact in India.
Inspiring rural women who defied expectations
They had only a dream to start with. And they have made their mark in various fields with a never-quit spirit. This International Day of Rural Women, we revisit some inspiring stories covered on Village Square.
Saraswathi’s journey from orphanage student to leader
To get her educated, Saraswathi’s parents enrolled her in an orphanage. From getting married as a teen to leaving her abusive husband, she trudged through her hardships and now runs an orphanage where she nurtures young girls.
Kihim women lead coastal village’s economic revival
The women of Kihim toil every day to transform this quiet coastal village in Maharashtra into a tourist destination, keeping its beach economy thriving while securing a better future for their families.
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.
A supermarket for the women, by the women
Sanjeevini Supermarket is a testament to the power of collective action, a celebration of local talent, and a marketplace of empowerment where women’s dreams are taking root, and a brighter, more sustainable future beckons.
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.