Gender equality projects in Indian villages

🌟 How Assam is Turning 40 Lakh Women into Lakhpati Entrepreneurs 💪 Imagine a rural woman in Assam, who for years has worked tirelessly at home or in the fields, earning just enough to meet her needs. Now imagine that same woman, three years later, running her own business, earning ₹1 lakh a year, standing tall with dignity. This is not a dream. This is Assam’s Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (MMMUA), lovingly called the ‘Lakhpati Baideo Scheme’ and it’s changing the face of rural Assam. 💰 The Game-Changing Investment in Women Our commitment is investing ₹4,000 crores to turn 40 lakh rural women into entrepreneurs. But this isn’t assistance. It’s a strategic investment: Year 1: ₹10,000 seed money to every woman🌱 Year 2: ₹25,000 support (half grant, half interest-free loan) on successful utilisation 📈 Year 3: A direct grant of ₹50,000 to further propel business 🎯 👉 In just three years, ₹85,000 per woman is infused as enterprise capital. 👉 The goal: To ensure every woman builds an income stream of ₹1 lakh per year. 🎯 Why It Matters Assam today is brimming with potential 👉 The state clocked 19% GSDP growth in 2023-24, one of the fastest in India. 👉 48.1% of women in Assam are part of the workforce which is higher than the national average. 👉 In just one year, 46.87 lakh people moved out of multi-dimensional poverty. 👉 With over 4 lakh Self-Help Groups, Assam already has the grassroots structure needed for this leap. The “Lakhpati Baideo” scheme is essentially fuel on fire for this transformation. ↗️ Stories That Inspire Talk to the women already part of this journey, and one thing stands out: Confidence. In villages, groups of women are investing in: 👉 Dairy farms supplying fresh milk 🥛 👉 Handloom units weaving Assamese heritage into modern fashion 🧵 👉 Small agri-businesses bringing organic produce directly to markets 🌾 👉 Handicrafts and e-commerce that connect remote artisans to global buyers 📦 Every successful Baideo is not just improving her own home but creating opportunities for others too. 🔮 Vision 2028 By 2028, we envision the following ✅ ₹40,000 crores in rural women-led income ✅ 4 lakh SHGs evolving into entrepreneurial networks ✅ A significant push to the state’s GDP ✅ A replicable model for the rest of India It’s not just about money. It’s about dignity, independence, and breaking cycles of poverty-but most of all, it’s about millions of daughters seeing their mothers as business leaders. 💪 The Bigger Picture The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan is not just a scheme. It’s a movement of resilience, ambition, and inclusion. Assam is showing the country that rural transformation doesn’t start with big factories or highways-it starts with empowering women at the grassroots.

Last week, I had the opportunity to witness some of the incredible work unfolding in #India to advance #women’s empowerment and #climate-resilient livelihoods. From organizing #women smallholders into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to leveraging #digital public infrastructure for targeted service delivery, the innovation and commitment I observed were truly inspiring. Two initiatives stood out for placing women at the heart of transformation: 🔸 Project Mesha – Aga Khan Foundation In Bihar, this ambitious initiative is improving the lives of landless and marginal farming households by strengthening the small ruminant value chain. The focus on women’s leadership has been particularly impressive. The project has led to the creation of the Mesha Mahila Bakaripalak Producer Company Limited, an all-women collective of over 4,200 goat farmers. This company not only delivers essential animal health services but is poised to become the largest goat-rearing enterprise in Bihar—and potentially in India. Early results also show improvements in women’s dietary diversity, underscoring how income in women’s hands translates into better well-being and agency. 🔸 PANI’s Community Resource Person (CRP) Model – Uttar Pradesh This model is empowering rural women—ages 18 to 45—as agricultural advisors, offering technical support on water and farming practices to marginalized smallholder farmers. These CRPs are becoming trusted experts and change agents in their communities, blending traditional knowledge with modern techniques. The initiative is addressing the dual challenges of #gender inequality and low agricultural productivity, while fostering resilience to climate change. Speaking with these remarkable women and hearing how the program has transformed their lives was a highlight of my visit. These efforts are a powerful reminder that when we invest in #women, we accelerate progress for entire communities. #WomenInAgriculture #ClimateResilience #DigitalPublicInfrastructure #Livelihoods #India #GenderEquality #InclusiveDevelopment

Engaging Young Men in Rajasthan: Shifting Gender Norms for a Better Future In Rajasthan, India, gender inequality remains deeply entrenched, contributing to issues like early marriage, intimate partner violence, and limited educational opportunities for girls. Recognizing the pivotal role young men play in perpetuating or challenging these norms, the Centre for Health and Social Justice (CHSJ) launched a gender equality intervention in 2015, targeting young men in 15 villages across Bundi and Udaipur districts (Freudberg et al. 2018). Key Objectives: Changing Mindsets: The program aimed to alter young men’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around gender roles, violence, and sexuality. By engaging these young men early, the initiative sought to lay the groundwork for long-term change in gender norms within their communities. Community Impact: Beyond individual changes, the intervention also targeted broader community-level shifts. The goal was to create an environment of greater gender equality, leading to reduced rates of child marriage, early maternal age, and enhanced educational opportunities for girls. Program Implementation: The project involved forming education groups for boys aged 14-17 and young men aged 18-25 in each village. These groups were led by local leaders trained by CHSJ and supported by the local organization, Manjiri. The curriculum covered a range of topics, from household gender roles to the societal impacts of child marriage and girls’ education. Despite facing challenges, including community resistance and funding cuts that shortened the program from three years to one, the initiative made notable progress. Impact and Results: Individual-Level Changes: Significant improvements were observed in participants’ knowledge and attitudes. Post-intervention, many young men reported helping with household chores and advocating for girls’ education in their communities. One participant noted, “After these meetings, I began to cook in my home and convinced my brother to send his daughter to school.” Community-Level Changes: While community-wide behavior change was more challenging, two villages saw substantial shifts. In one, efforts to combat child marriage led to a door-to-door campaign involving local government workers, resulting in the elimination of child marriages in the village since the campaign’s start. Challenges and Future Directions: Despite these successes, the short duration of the intervention limited its potential for broader community change. However, the progress made at the individual level suggests that with sustained efforts, these young men could become catalysts for deeper, long-lasting change in their communities. The lessons from this initiative underscore the importance of engaging young men in gender equality efforts. #GenderEquality #SocialNorms #YouthEngagement #Rajasthan #CommunityChange #PublicHealth

Not in a conference or seminars. But here. A government school in a village , is where I like to speak the most To the girls who carry the future of India Because we live in two Indias. One India where Gen Z is building decks, pitching ideas, and planning the next big leap. And another India where dreams are just as real, but they break midway, quietly. Not because of lack of ambition. Because of lack of basics. Because there is no guidance. No one to talk to about their health, their education, their doubts, or their dreams. No space to ask questions without fear or shame. Samarpan, works with government schools to build what are the basics: clean drinking water, menstrual hygiene management, and education essentials that keep girls in class and learning with confidence. This is not “extra”. This is what makes learning sustainable. If India wants girls to complete school, we have to stop treating these as side issues and start treating them as core infrastructure for education. #GirlsEducation #MenstrualHygiene #WASH #GovernmentSchools #RuralIndia #Samarpan #EducationEquity #PublicHealth #SocialImpact

Everyday, I count myself extremely lucky to be associated with organisations like READ India. Here's a story out of the 100s we hear everyday. Faced with the devastating death of her brother during Covid19, and loss of financial resources, Sandhya Shrikrushna Salte, joined a READ India course on Food Processing in Kathoda village, Yavatmal, India. She soon launched her own home-based business, "Gopi Gruh Udyog", learnt how to use social media to promote her products, earning currently over Rs. 50,000/pm. Her success story is an inspiration to her other colleagues from the same centre. READ India recognises that women often face special barriers to education, formal employment, economic independence, perpetuating gender inequity and inequality. Which is why they have paid special attention to curating their trainings to focus on close-to-home, centre-based ones that can be provided online - the resultant activities can be completed either at the centre or at home. By equipping women with marketable skills and resources, these programs catalyse a process to break the cycle of poverty & empower women to actively participate in economic activities, promoting their social and economic wellbeing. Greater attention has been paid to women from minority communities & differently abled women so that solutions are created for a diverse group of women. READ India's skilling programs empowers women like Sandhya with necessary tools and knowledge to secure gainful employment or start their own micro-enterprises, in sectors with significant opportunities for self-employability. The impact has been profound and multifaceted: - Economic Empowerment: Partners gain skills and knowledge to access sustainable employment or start businesses, leading to increased income and financial independence. - Enhanced Social Status: New skills and economic independence improve the women's social standing, making them role models and leaders in their communities. - Improved Self-Confidence: Acquiring and applying new skills boosts women’s' self-esteem and empowers them to take on challenges. - Community Development: The program fosters self-reliance and economic empowerment, leading to individual success and broader community development initiatives. READ India put this model into practice in 2007, 17 years ago, and have created over 60 Community Library and Resource Centres (CLRCs) nationwide reaching more than 170,000 unique individuals. Lead by Geeta Malhotra and ably assisted by Smita Rai, READ has stood with 50,000+ women. The impact of Read India has been evaluated by their corporate partners, Accenture and Culvar Max. Their evaluation noted that the slow change in economic status or the growth of women’s participation in economic activities is further responsible for more respect for women, both in the community and household. On International Women's Day we stand in solidarity with all the women from READ. #skilling #womenempowerment #genderequality #IWD2025

From Nuclear Physics to Nation Building. From research labs to rural entrepreneurship. Meet Kalpana Sankar - a scientist who chose impact over titles. With a PhD in Nuclear Physics, she stepped into a field dominated by men. But her real breakthrough wasn’t in a laboratory. It was in villages. After witnessing poverty and child labor firsthand in Coimbatore, she took on a bold mission - empower women with skills, financial literacy, and access to credit. That mission became Hand in Hand India. What started as a small initiative evolved into a movement: → 50,000+ women entrepreneurs supported → Operations across 18 Indian states → Global replication in multiple countries → Large-scale digital & financial literacy programs → A vision to create 10 million jobs One remarkable initiative in Madhya Pradesh trained nearly 30,000 people - mostly women - to use mobile phones for financial transactions, accelerating digital and financial inclusion. Her impact earned her global recognition, including the prestigious Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa @Global Award for Women’s Empowerment. But beyond awards and numbers, her message is simple: Research deeply. Document your work. Build systems. Create independence - not dependency. Dr. Kalpana Sankar’s journey proves that science and social transformation are not separate paths. They can be the same mission. If stories like this inspire you to think bigger about your career in science, innovation, or social impact - keep learning, keep building, and keep pushing boundaries. India needs more scientists. India needs more problem-solvers. India needs more impact-driven leaders. #WomenEmpowerment #SocialImpact #PragatiLeadership #CoachMantra #ScientificLeadership #IndiaDevelopment

Bindu was on top of her game —a highly successful senior executive, at the peak of a brilliant career. An American institution recognized her work with the highest award in her field. That was her Oscar moment. And yet as she received that award, she froze. 𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑡? 𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟? 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦? Amidst the applause, the achievement felt hollow. 𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑓𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙? 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐼 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒? When you have such difficult questions and no answers, you know that you are on the edge of transformation. At the peak of gory, Bindu returned from America holding two things in her hands – an award and a resignation letter. That was her threshold crossing moment. She had no plan. But chasing the next title, the next crown was not an option. Bindu comes from a matriarchal culture. Yet all her life, she experienced micro-aggression and marginalization of women. At times, directed towards her. She decided to volunteer for an NGO—supporting abandoned sex workers and survivors of abuse, helping them rebuild their lives through financial independence. That experience lit a fire in her. She decided to start her own NGO. Supernatural aid came in the form of Annie Raja, then head of National Commission for Women. she was guided to the root of the problem: “𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑠.” Bindu Googled India’s 10 worst villages and went to the one that topped the list. Mayurbhanj - a place in the grip of abject poverty, severe marginalization of women, malnourishment and alcoholism. No toilets, no electricity, no hope. An altar at which her corporate ego, identity, Oxford degree and sophistication had to die. But the ordeal and death are essential in every Hero's Journey. She sold everything she owned to raise funds for basic infrastructure and small enterprises. 𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑜 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑤𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠? she asked. For years she worked with these villages alone, often amidst life threatening situations. To give those women the honor and respect they deserve, to give them voice and strength. Financial independence being the route. After 8 years of toil, the villages where her center stand are completely transformed today. Micro enterprise found a thriving market abroad. The artisanal community expanded to 62 villages. Poverty got eradicated. Women got financial freedom and control, safety and dignity. And Bindu? Hero's role is to find self and serve others, they say. Having lost everything, she found the ultimate rapture in serving these women. Bindu Vinodhan, your life is an inspiring example of The Hero's Journey. "Hero is someone who has found or done something beyond the normal range of achievement or experience, says Campbell. Bindu proved it to be true. Mauna Dhwani Foundation #motivation #entrepreneurship #humanresources #startups #management

"Ujjwala didn't just give me a cylinder—it gave me two hours every day to earn money." "I used to spend 3 hours collecting wood, coughing in smoke while cooking. Now I run a small tailoring business and send my daughter to school. I feel independent." — Lalita Devi, 34, Chhattisgarh 🔥 Ujjwala Yojana: Fueling India's Journey from Poverty to Prosperity Launched in 2016, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has empowered 9.6 crore+ women, lifting millions out of time poverty—and inching them closer to financial freedom. 📊 Impact in Numbers: ⏳ 1.5 to 2 hours saved per woman per day 💸 Many women now use saved time to work: tailoring, SHGs, farm labor 🏠 35–40% rise in household productivity in LPG-adopted homes (NITI Aayog, 2023) 🎯 Ujjwala 2.0 targets deeper inclusion with migrant and tribal families 🌏 Global Context: While 2.4 billion people globally still rely on polluting cooking fuels, India leads the clean cooking revolution for the poor. According to Clean Cooking Alliance: "Ujjwala is the most scaled public health + gender program in clean cooking in the world." 🚀 India@100: A Woman-Driven Dream As we move towards 2047 – 100 years of Independence, the mission is not just to remove poverty, but to replace it with opportunity. PMUY is now tied to: Gati Shakti (infrastructure for LPG delivery) Skill India (women-led enterprises) Make in India (local cylinder production) 💔 Real Barrier: Refill Affordability Many women still struggle to afford ₹900+ per refill. In areas like rural Jharkhand and Assam, over 33% Ujjwala connections lie unused. Solution: Direct subsidy, refill credit lines, and mini-cylinder innovations. ❤️ Mini Story: Lalita’s Stitching Dreams Lalita used to spend mornings in forests, collecting fuel. After getting an LPG cylinder under Ujjwala, she joined a self-help group. Today, she stitches clothes, earns ₹3,000/month, and plans to open a small shop. Her daughter reads under clean light. “Maybe one day, she’ll become a teacher.”

When discussions around development take place, the focus often remains on infrastructure, investment, and industry. But meaningful transformation is ultimately reflected in the opportunities available to people. One initiative that has been particularly close to this belief is the Lloyds Vanya Garment Centre in Gadchiroli. What makes the initiative significant is not simply the number of garments produced. It is the number of opportunities created. Today, more than 200 women from 32 villages are part of the initiative, producing over 40,000 garments within just nine months. Behind these numbers are stories of skill development, financial independence, and growing confidence. At the same time, the journey extends beyond the garment centre itself. Many women have stepped into roles that were once considered unconventional, including positions as heavy and light vehicle drivers, while others have taken on important responsibilities within safety and security functions. For me, this represents an important aspect of development. When women gain access to skills, employment, and responsibility, the impact extends far beyond the workplace. It strengthens families, supports communities, and creates pathways for long-term economic participation. Progress becomes more meaningful when more people are able to participate in it. And that is precisely what initiatives like Lloyds Vanya seek to achieve.

𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢: 𝐀 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 Piplantri is a village located in Rajsamand district in Rajasthan State, India. The villagers of Piplantri plant 111 trees every time a girl child is born and the community ensures these trees survive, attaining fruition as the girls grow up. To ensure financial security, after the birth of a girl child, the villagers contribute Rs 21,000 collectively and take Rs 10,000 from the parents and puts it in a fixed deposit, which can be broken when she turns 20. To make sure that girl child receives proper education, the villagers make the parents sign an affidavit which also restricts them from marrying her off, before she attains the legal age for marriage. Sh Shyam Sundar Paliwal, the former sarpanch (village head) started this initiative in the memory of hisdaughter Kiran, who died a few years ago. The initiative has also helped the town’s economy. To keep termites away from the trees, many of which bear fruit, the village has planted more than 2.5 million Aloe vera plants around them. Gradually, the villagers realized that Aloe vera could be processed and marketed in a variety of ways. So the community now produces and markets aloe-based products like juice and gel, among other things. In a country that still favours the birth of a son, Piplantri village in Rajasthan not only embraces daughters but has created a tradition that benefits both the local people and the planet. This endearing village makes a conscious effort to save girl children and the green cover at the same time, by planting 111 trees every time a girl is born. A brilliant exercise in eco-feminism, this should inspire India and the rest of the world. #earthday #environment #piplantri #genderequality #india #rajasthan LinkedIn Guide to Creating LinkedIn News India