While people talk about modern urban Indian women who are making waves of change, creating their career paths, defining success stories, and building companies, here are some such women of mettle in rural India who have created a difference and are charting their own growth stories in ‘Real Bharat’.
PRADAN brings in success stories of such women, which has been working relentlessly to strengthen livelihood, empower women and skill people in the rural pockets of India. This Women’s Day let’s celebrate the incredible journeys of women in rural India. Below are four such women from different parts of the country:
Triveni Khairwar with her net house model
Triveni’s story: A farmer’s triumph in Madhya Pradesh
Triveni Khairwar, a 30-year-old farmer from Mouriya village, Balaghat, is a beacon of change. With the support of the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project and her Self-Help Group (SHG), she embraced the Kheyti Net House Model, a low-cost farming innovation that protects crops and improves yields. By adopting regenerative agriculture practices like organic inputs, drip irrigation, and composting, Triveni transformed 6 decimals of barren land into a thriving farm, harvesting 5 quintals of brinjal and 60 kg of chili. Her income grew by 23 per cent, from ₹86,000 to ₹1,06,100 annually, and her success has inspired many in her community to follow suit. Triveni’s journey highlights how women, when empowered, can drive agricultural innovation and resilience in rural economies.
Geeta Mahata whose life has changed forever for good
Geeta’s transformation through FPCs in West Bengal
In the villages of Jhargram district, Geeta Mahata’s life was forever changed by the intervention of the Aamon Mahila Chasi Farmers Producer Company (FPC). An organic farmer, Geeta watched her land transform as soil health improved, with earthworms and local wildlife returning to her fields. With the support of the FPC and PRADAN, Geeta cultivated organic bitter gourd and earned ₹26,000 from just 0.1 acre of land, along with ₹31,000 from selling indigenous rice. The FPC has also empowered 5,550 women farmers, helping them shift to organic farming and increase their income by growing high-value crops like indigenous black rice. The women-led rice and turmeric processing units have further diversified their earnings, (Geeta being one of them),showcasing how cooperative farming models can create long-term, sustainable income opportunities for women in rural areas.
Nirmala’s success story in Torpa, Jharkhand
In Dorma village, Torpa block, Nirmala Bengra took a transformative step when she joined a Farmer Producer Company (FPC). With support in production techniques and quality inputs, Nirmala began growing diverse crops. Last year, she harvested nine tons of watermelon from just one acre of land and earned ₹50,000. She also converted one-acre of upland into a flourishing mango orchard. Nirmala’s success story is a testament to the power of community support, sustainable farming, and the willingness to embrace new techniques to enhance productivity and income.
Rama’s journey: A potatoes expert from Odisha
In Nilodoraput village of Koraput district, Rama Guntha faced a challenging situation where farmers struggled to get timely payments for their produce from vendors in the open market. This all changed when Rama and other farmers joined the Koraput Nari Shakti Farmer Producer Company (FPC). With access to high-quality inputs and timely cash payments, Rama expanded her cultivation of potatoes and other crops. In 2023, she harvested 60 quintals of potatoes from three acres of land, earning ₹45,000 from 30 quintals, while the rest was donated to feed devotees at a social ceremony. Rama’s expertise in potatoes has gained recognition, and she now trains other farmers in the region. Her efforts have led to the launch of a 10,000-acre potato cropping scheme, and the Horticulture Department has provided subsidized potato seeds to farmers. With the help of PRADAN and FPC, vendors now pay regularly, marking a significant transformation in the way business is conducted in the village.
The author is team coordinator, Communications, at Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN)