Breaking Barriers: Success Stories of Rural Female Entrepreneurs in India
We are living in New India - a Shining India where women lead by example. Today rural women across the tapestry of India are rewriting narratives. They run households, serve as the backbone of the agriculture industry, and are frequently the unsung heroes of family-run businesses. There are innumerable emerging women rural entrepreneurs who are shattering stereotypes and forging their routes to prosperity.
These motivational tales of rural women entrepreneurs highlight the tenacity, resolve, and spirit of entrepreneurship that are thriving in rural India.
5 Women Rural Entrepreneurs’ Success Story You Should Know
Did you know, approximately 20.5% of Indian women are MSME owners and contribute to over 18.73% of the labour force, and 10.22% of turnover according to a report by IBEF?
Let us look at some women rural entrepreneurs' success stories that are bound to inspire new generations of women entrepreneurs.
#1 Shri Mahila Griha Udyog - Lijjat Papad
When 7 ladies from a building gathered on a terrace in Girgaon, Southern Mumbai, they gave birth to a new concept of entrepreneurship - Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad. It is a women's organization manufacturing various products from Papad, Appalam, Masala, etc.
Started by Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat, Parvatiben Ramdas Thodani, Diwaliben Lukkha, Banuben N. Tanna, Ujamben Narandas Kundalia, Jayaben V. Vithalani and Laguben Amritlar Gokani in 1959, today this women’s group has become the undisputed market leader with more than 50% market share in India. They are 10 times larger than the 2nd largest papad brand in the country.
This women rural entrepreneur's success story is a reminder that when you put your heart and efforts into your idea, everything is possible. They had an annual turnover of Rs 1600 crores in 2019, and a 2001 data says they employ over 45,000 women across India.
#2 Bina Devi - The Mushroom Lady from Bihar
Bina Devi, 46 from Munger, Bihar is known as The Mushroom Lady or ‘Mushroom Mahila. As a woman from a village Bina Devi was tied down with the responsibilities of the house, kids, family, and the usual duties of rural women. However, the brave lady learned mushroom cultivation and grew her first batch under her bed due to a lack of place for cultivation.
Once she mastered the art of growing mushrooms, she began inspiring other women to take charge and achieve self-determination. In Munger district of Bihar, she has popularized the production of mushrooms in 105 nearby villages, inspiring 1,500 women to start growing mushrooms, gaining her the title ‘The Mushroom Lady’.
On March 9, 2020, President Ram Nath Kovind honored Bina Devi with the Nari Shakti Samman for her outstanding contribution to the agriculture sector.
#3 Pabiben Rabadi founder of Pabiben.com from Kutch, Gujarat
Our next women rural entrepreneur's success story is from a star embroidery craftswoman who rocks the international fashion world. Indian embroidery artist Pabiben Rabari hails from Bhadroi Village in the Anjar Taluka of Gujarat's Kutch region. This rural woman entrepreneur invented a new embroidery art form called 'Hari Jari' - which uses a combination of trims and ribbons, and hand and machine stitches.
Her line of shopping bags called the Pabi Bag became an instant hit and has been used in many Bollywood and Hollywood Movies like Luck by Chance and The Other End of the Line.
Today she is the proud owner of Pabiben.com where she sells her handmade sustainable bags and accessories and has become a popular D2C brand. With a lifetime sale of Rs 2 crores, this rural woman entrepreneur wowed the judges at Shark Tank India season 2.
#4 Chetna Gala Sinmha, Founder of Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank
Chetna Gala Sinmha is a social activist and one of the well-known women rural entrepreneurs who has dedicated her life to empowering women from India's poorest regions.
In 1997 Chetna founded the first bank for rural women - Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank. This bank has given over $50 million to support projects of all kinds involving female entrepreneurs as of 2018.
Apart from the bank, she has also built the Mann Deshi Foundation, which oversees a variety of operations including community radio, a school to assist women rural entrepreneurs and help them expand their ventures.
#5 Kanika Talukar, Founder Jay Vermi Compost
When life threw tragedy at Kanika, she decided to rise from the ashes. Widowed at 27 with the responsibility of a 4-month-old daughter, Kanika decided not to bow down to tragedy. Instead, she learned how to do vermicompost in her hometown Nalbari, Assam.
With just Rs 500 and 1 kg of earthworms, she started her own venture Jay Vermi Compost. She used locally sourced paddy residue, stems of hyacinth, cow dung, and bamboo pit for her organic vermicompost business. This woman rural entrepreneur today has a month income of Rs 3.5 lakh and sells her products on Amazon, Flipkart for consumers and to various farmers in the eastern region.
As India develops, encouraging women rural entrepreneurs will not only boost the country's economy but also build a more cohesive and powerful society. We can enable these amazing women entrepreneurs to rewrite their own histories and serve as role models for future generations by giving them access to market opportunities, financial resources, and training. Huts and Looms salutes these fearless women who are changing the lives of innumerable other women by providing direction and employment.
Ref
1.https://www.ibef.org/industry/msme-presentation
