In Parulia village of Nadia district, West Bengal, 38-year-old Asima Sardar stands as a quiet but powerful example of how rural women can transform their lives when given the tools, training, and confidence to lead.
Achievements
Udyamini impact: in numbers
At Udyamini, we are proud to highlight our achievements in empowering rural women
entrepreneurs. Our initiatives have reached thousands, transforming lives and
communities.
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Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWEs) reached
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RWEs Skilled & Trained
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RWEs Linked with Market Access
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RWEs linked with Schemes
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RWEs engaged with Counselling & Mentorship
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Partnerships Engaged for RWEs
Udyamini Blogs
How Bhabani Rabha turned skill into strength and built a community of weavers
From Genderapara village in Goalpara, Assam, 38-year-old Bhabani Rabha’s journey into handloom weaving began long before entrepreneurship entered her life. She was just 12 when she first sat beside her mother at the loom...
From Rs 4,000 to premium green tea: Jonaki Terangpi’s entrepreneurship journey
Jonaki Terangpi begins her day before sunrise in Vophong Engjai (Kanchanjuri) village under Rongmongve block, Karbi Anglong. For years, her life revolved around farming, household responsibilities, and community...
From homemaker to digital trailblazer: Manjuwara Begum’s journey lights up rural Assam
Manjuwara Begum, a postgraduate mother of two from Damdama Pathar in Assam, had always dreamt of reclaiming her professional identity. Coming from a middle-class family, much of her energy had long been devoted to caring...
Rising from ₹10,000: How Gitanjali Kalita built a rural enterprise
When Gitanjali Kalita moved from her native Balbala Village to Bapupara in Assam’s Goalpara district after marriage, she carried with her little more than determination and a dream for a better life.
Stitching Futures: Masuma Khatun’s journey from artisan to community leader
Masuma Khatun of Jagnanagar, Birbhum, began her entrepreneurial journey with just ₹20,000 from a self-help group loan and a lifelong love for Kantha embroidery. Today, she stands as one of rural Bengal’s most inspiring...
Grinding barriers to dust: How Sunanda Mukherjee built a spice enterprise
When Sunanda Mukherjee looks back at her journey from Ichariya village in Bankura, West Bengal, she sees not only the transformation of her livelihood but the strengthening of her confidence and voice.
A bridge to a new future: How Maloti Terangpi became a green tea entrepreneur
Maloti Terangpi’s journey begins in Dakiram Ronghang, a remote village tucked inside Karbi Anglong’s Rongmongve Block in Assam. For years, she cultivated tea on her small plot of land, selling raw leaves at just ₹15 per...
Stitching success: Kalpana Das lights the path for women weavers in Assam
Kalpana Das, a handloom weaver from Narengapara in Kamrup, Assam, began her journey with modest means and a simple goal: to support her family by weaving gamusa and selling them in nearby markets.
Mokarrami Khatun shows how rural women can lead the digital Economy
Mokarrami Khatun’s entrepreneurial journey began in Debipur Achintala, in Malda, West Bengal, a rural settlement where opportunities are often limited by distance, infrastructure, and traditional norms.
Women’s rural entrepreneurship in focus at Rural Udyamita 2025
The Rural Udyamita Conference 2025 brought together representatives from government bodies, development agencies, corporates, financial institutions and rural women entrepreneurs to discuss strategies...
The Persisting Pay Gap: Addressing Gender Inequality in Wages in India
Despite the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, which prohibits discrimination in wages based on gender, India continues to grapple with a significant gender wage gap. This disparity not only undermines the principle of equal pay...
Women are Prime Bearer of Unpaid Domestic Household Duties and Drudgery
Over 90%. This is The staggering percentage of non-working women in India who were engaged in domestic duties according to the 2011-2012 National Sample Survey (NSS). This statistic paints a stark picture...
Low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in Rural India
Despite boasting a vibrant and diverse workforce, India grapples with a persistent challenge: the low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), particularly in rural areas. This complex issue not only hinders economic growth...
Publication
Explore our latest insights and findings.
Building Sustainable Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Assam and West Bengal
The report “Building Sustainable Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Assam and West Bengal” examines women’s roles in six key value chains across eight districts, highlighting challenges and opportunities.
The Big Bets Collaborative- What Rural Women Entrepreneurs Want
Research by Start Up! highlights the need to strengthen five key forms of capital—personhood, knowledge, financial, social, and recognition—for Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWEs). This includes gender-transformative training, dignified infrastructure, and accessible, context-based business education.
State of the Nation: Rural Women Entrepreneurship in India
This report explores the landscape of rural women entrepreneurship in India, highlighting challenges, opportunities, and systemic barriers. It offers data-driven insights and recommendations to foster inclusive economic participation for women in rural areas.
Digital Skills Enhancement of Nano, Micro, and Small Enterprisesa
Digital Empowerment Foundation’s initiatives empowering over 1 million rural women through digital literacy, enterprise development, and sector-specific support. It highlights flagship programs like SoochnaPreneur, Digital Didi, and Project Revive that foster sustainable livelihoods and digital inclusion.
Successful Women Entrepreneurs from Rural Areas of Assam
This report highlights the inspiring journeys of successful women micro-entrepreneurs from rural Assam. It showcases their challenges, resilience, and achievements in building sustainable livelihoods.
An Exploratory Study of Adoption and Usage of Technology by Rural Women for Entrepreneurship and Empowerment
This study delves into the interplay of socio-economic, political, and cultural factors shaping the digital landscape for women and girls in rural India. This study unveils the multifaceted dynamics that influence their access to and utilisation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Video
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Implementation Partners
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