India, 16th october 2025: The vision of a future-forward, inclusive, and economically vibrant India is incomplete without the participation of women in the workforce. With equal access to education, economic opportunities, and safety, women can drive social change, overcome socio-cultural barriers, and confidently run businesses. Initiatives like Mudra Yojana and Stand-Up India have contributed to an increase in the Female Labour Force Participation Rate, from 23.3% in 2017–18 to 41.7% in 2023–24. However, the Economic Survey 2024–25 highlights that women still own only 22% of India’s MSMEs, most of which are micro-enterprises.
To empower aspiring women entrepreneurs, Transform Rural India (TRI), a development design organisation, is working to transform India’s bottom 100,000 villages into thriving localities. Through scalable and grounded solutions, TRI is creating entrepreneurial ecosystems that provide counselling, skill development, financial literacy workshops, and peer group meetings to foster collaboration and resource sharing within communities. Many rural women have emerged as inspiring examples of resilience and enterprise.
1. Padma Patel
Padma (35) from Kari village, Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, is now the proud owner of Muskan Saree Shop & Silai Centre. Born into a family engaged in agricultural labour and goat herding, she initially ran a small bangle shop to support her family. Her journey took a transformative turn when she joined TRI’s Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) through the Enterprise Facilitation Hub.
With guidance from TRI’s Nari Adhikar Kendra, she strengthened her financial literacy and business skills. Padma expanded her shop to include sarees and a sewing counter. Today, she enjoys a thriving business during festive and wedding seasons and plans to establish a dedicated sewing centre on newly acquired land. She actively inspires other women to acquire skills and leverage resources to realise their dreams.
2. Anita Wagh
Anita (32), from Kansul village, Pansemal, Barwani district, could not complete education beyond Class 10. Yet, she turned her tailoring skills into a profession after marriage, starting the Jai Dasha Mata Silai Center. With support from a self-help group and guidance from TRI’s Pansemal Enterprise Facilitation Hub and Nari Adhikar Kendra, she trained under TRI’s Accelerated Entrepreneurship Development Program (AEDP) to gain marketing and strategic skills.
Relocating her centre to Pansemal, Anita serves women from nearby villages, focusing on quality, versatility, and timely delivery. Today, she runs a successful enterprise and plans to expand into a cloth shop, gaining financial independence and respect within her family and community.
3. Rukhsana Bi
Rukhsana (33) from Julwaniya, Barwani, has established her own Ayesha Collection Cloth Shop. Limited education and social constraints initially restricted her to household duties. With the support of her husband and in-laws and guidance from TRI’s Enterprise Facilitation Hub, Rukhsana developed a business plan, identified a market gap, and secured support through a self-help group.
Her shop now serves families in Julwaniya and surrounding villages, providing her with financial independence and social recognition. Rukhsana contributes to family decisions, educates her children, and plans to expand into a full-fledged shop in the near future.