From homemaker to digital trailblazer: Manjuwara Begum’s journey lights up rural Assam
Today, Manjuwara runs a growing digital enterprise, using online platforms to showcase products and expand her customer base.
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 for her children and managing household responsibilities.
Despite her education, opportunities to grow her skills or build her career remained out of reach. With no initial capital to invest and limited exposure to digital tools, she often felt her aspirations slipping further away.
Everything changed in July 2024, when she was introduced to the Udyamini programme through the District Coordinator. Recognising her determination, the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) supported her through skill-building, digital literacy training, and personalised mentoring.
Manjuwara immersed herself in learning how to promote products online, engage customers, and manage her business with confidence. Her dedication was evident within just a month: she began earning ₹7,000 per month, marking the first real step toward her target income of ₹15,000.
Today, Manjuwara runs a growing digital enterprise, using online platforms to showcase products and expand her customer base.
Her early achievements earned recognition from programme mentors, boosting her confidence and strengthening her resolve to continue building her business. The transformation has gone beyond income—she now inspires other women in her locality to experiment with digital tools and explore entrepreneurship.
Her presence has become a quiet revolution in Damdama Pathar, where women traditionally lacked access to structured support systems. Through digital empowerment, she has shown how technology can open doors for rural women navigating both personal responsibilities and economic aspirations.
Manjuwara’s journey reflects the spirit of Udyamini—women taking charge of their futures through knowledge, community support, and digital inclusion. Her growing business has strengthened her family’s financial stability and encouraged her to dream bigger.
She now plans to diversify her product range, sharpen her digital marketing skills, and scale her enterprise further. Her story stands as a testament to what is possible when opportunity meets commitment.
This year, Manjuwara will be one among the many Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWEs) attending the Rural Udyamita Conference 2025 in Guwahati. The event is expected to bring together grassroots entrepreneurs like her, along with national and regional stakeholders who are shaping the future of rural entrepreneurship. For Manjuwara, it will be an opportunity to share her journey, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and learn from experts working to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem across India.
The Rural Udyamita Conference 2025, scheduled for December 12 at NEDFi, Guwahati, marks a significant milestone for the rural entrepreneurship movement in the Northeast.
Organised and hosted by the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD), the Digital Empowerment Foundation, the North East Development Foundation, and Unifiers Social Ventures, the event aims to foster dialogue, collaboration, and learning among policymakers, development organisations, and women entrepreneurs themselves.
As a landmark gathering, the conference will deliberate on building an enabling, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem where rural women can thrive as business leaders.
The event is co-organised by the Udyamini Rural Women Entrepreneurship Programme (RWEP) Collaborative and supported by key institutional partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM).
Together, these organisations are working to create a vibrant community of digitally empowered RWEs from diverse socio-economic backgrounds—women who are not only contributing to their households but reshaping local economies.
At its core, Udyamini embodies the belief that rural women have the potential to transform their lives and their communities when given access to skills, networks, and opportunities. Manjuwara Begum’s journey—from having no capital to building a thriving digital business—captures this promise perfectly.
