women empowerment

Ranbir Kaur starts her mornings at 5 to sell homemade fruit cream. Locals know her as ‘Aunty Ji’— a name now going viral.

Through the power of community radio, the women residing in villages across Haryana’s Nuh and Rajasthan’s Alwar are ensuring they no longer sit in silence, but partake equally in decision making, village planning, and their livelihoods.

Across Alwar, Bengaluru, and Nashik, three women are building lives shaped by work and financial freedom. Kalpana, Chaithra, and Alka’s paths are different, but each reflects what happens when women earn independently — gaining stability, respect, and the confidence to imagine more for themselves and their families.

Chokhone Krichena from Mao, Manipur, is leading Dianthe to bridge the gap between rural floriculture farmers and urban markets. By guaranteeing the farmers marketability and fair prices, Chokhone is helping them boost their incomes, and ensuring that the beauty of Mao’s flowers reaches cities across India.

After losing his sister to poverty, Selvakumar — known as ‘Tailor Bro’ — began training women in tailoring for just Re 1. Over 18 years, he has empowered 4.6 lakh women across Tamil Nadu, while over 40 lakh more are learning through his YouTube channel, which helps women train and earn from home.

Displaced from Kashmir in 1989, Maya Kaul — mother of actor Manav Kaul — rebuilt her life in Madhya Pradesh through education, quietly turning survival into service. Today, at 73, she supports 60 anganwadis, helps women earn with dignity, and continues to nurture children and communities — never calling herself a changemaker, even as she transforms lives.

In 2025, India made strides in empowering millions, from farmers to women and youth. Key changes in digital health, social protection, and skill development have had a profound impact. 42 million farmers, 32 million women, and 116,000 youth gained stability, support, and new opportunities, driving India’s progress.

Solar-powered milk chillers in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district are preventing spoilage and saving women farmers from daily losses. Through Asha Mahila and WWF India, the technology chills milk within minutes, improving quality, income, and confidence for thousands of women.

Nauroti Devi spent her early years breaking stones for a few rupees. Years later, she learned to read, embraced technology, and earned her village’s trust. Knowledge opened doors she once could not reach.

Pooja Bangad, co-founder of SheWork, overcame family expectations to change women’s roles in tech. SheWork helps women return to the tech industry after breaks, fights for equal opportunities, and challenges the gender bias that holds women back, empowering them to grow and succeed in their careers.