How Bhabani Rabha turned skill into strength and built a community of weavers
Today, Bhabani owns four jacquard looms and produces high-quality Rabha textiles that continue to find space in larger markets
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, learning the craft that would one day define her future. Years later, in 2011, she transformed this skill into a livelihood, starting her enterprise with determination and an initial investment of Rs. 100,000. What began as a modest effort soon expanded as she took on her first major breakthrough assignment: a bulk order of 200 pajar from the Rabha Sahitya Sabha.
Fulfilling such a large order required more than skill; it demanded coordination, leadership, and trust within her community. Bhabani mobilised fellow weavers in her village, turning the assignment into a collective effort that not only supported her business but also created work for others. Over time, she saved consistently, reinvesting in her venture and upgrading her operations by purchasing jacquard looms to meet increasing demand and diversify her designs.
Family support has been central to Bhabani’s progress. Combined with training from Grameen Sahara, she strengthened her financial management, digital literacy, and business planning capabilities. These efforts gradually expanded her enterprise, building her reputation as a disciplined and dependable weaver whose work reflects both cultural heritage and technical skill.
Today, Bhabani owns four jacquard looms and produces high-quality Rabha textiles that continue to find space in larger markets. Her ability to handle bulk orders, including a recent one from the Assam Sahitya Sabha, has boosted her household income and created opportunities for other women during periods of high demand. Her leadership has also inspired her daughter to pursue formal training in handloom technology, ensuring that the craft continues through the next generation.
For Bhabani, weaving is more than a livelihood. It is a collective journey built on perseverance and shared growth. As she puts it, “Weaving gave me strength, independence, and a way to support other women in my village. Every loom I added was a step forward not just for me, but for our entire weaving community.” Her story is echoed by her Project Manager, who observes, “Bhabani is a remarkable entrepreneur whose discipline and community spirit set her apart. Her ability to scale her business while uplifting fellow weavers shows true leadership and long-term vision.”
Bhabani is one among many inspiring Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWEs) who will be attending the Rural Udyamita Conference 2025 in Guwahati on 12 December. As part of the Udyamini Project, she represents the growing network of women who are reshaping local livelihoods across Assam and West Bengal. The Udyamini programme, implemented under the Rural Women Entrepreneurship Programme (RWEP), is a four-year collaborative initiative running from 2023 to 2027. It focuses on creating an ecosystem where rural women can build sustainable enterprises across sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, handloom, handicrafts, tea, micro-businesses, and emerging fields like solar and clean energy.
This year’s Rural Udyamita Conference, to be held at NEDFi House, aims to bring together leaders, institutions, and grassroots practitioners from across India to discuss what it takes to build an enabling and future-ready entrepreneurial landscape for rural women. Organised and hosted by the Council for Social and Digital Development (CSDD), Digital Empowerment Foundation, North East Development Foundation, and Unifiers Social Ventures, the event will highlight voices from the ground while exploring collaborative approaches to capacity-building and digital empowerment.
Co-organised by the Udyamini RWEP Collaborative and supported by partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM), the conference is poised to be a landmark gathering. For entrepreneurs like Bhabani Rabha, it offers not only recognition but also a platform to connect, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of rural entrepreneurship in India.
