Livelihoods

Rural India is home of the original gig-economy worker. Enterprising villagers hop from tilling fields to tending shops, to door-to-door selling each day. Read the latest trends in micro-enterprises, rural start-ups and the shifting livelihoods of India’s villagers.

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Sparking ideas for India’s next 75 years

The recent Indian Rural Colloquy brought together India's sharpest minds - from doyens of the development world to industry leaders, government secretaries and activists - all at the front of India's march to progress.

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Lip-smacking tribal cuisines help women make a living

A tribal festival in Jharkhand popularises authentic tribal cuisine, ensuring traditional recipes are preserved and helping tribal women explore opportunities to make money serving their unique fare.

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Mango cultivation not so juicy in Chittoor this year

Unseasonal heavy rainfall and winds are hurting the mango yields of Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor farmers, who cater to local juice factories and export markets.

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Homemaker turns soft toy entrepreneur

After attending a training programme, a Rajasthani homemaker becomes a craft entrepreneur, making soft toys and giving gainful employment to other women from her village.

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Goa’s villagers struggle with fewer tourists

As if the COVID pandemic weren’t bad enough, the Russian war deals a harder blow to Goa’s tourism, forcing tourism-dependent villagers to find new means of income.

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Chai and Bandhu brew a perfect blend for Chakla

Suspicious of his motives, his tea shop and Muslim identity, the people of Chakla village shunned Abdul Nazar until they realised his chai shop was a springboard to develop their village.

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Same dam yields more fish through cage fish farming

With increasing number of fishermen vying for a catch in the same dam, their livelihood was at stake. Growing fish in cages within the dam helps the fishermen earn more.

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Weaving a way out of destitution

Weaving indigenous handloom clothes offers destitute women and those who have been trafficked a safe and stable livelihood in the hills of Darjeeling.

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Floods in Assam fan out to new areas, cause more harm

While the intense rains and obstructions on river courses cause floods in Assam, the flood waters enter new territories, causing more damage than before.