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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Bengaluru couple’s startup goes back to the roots

From natural kajal to desi cow milk ghee, this startup by a Bengaluru-based couple offers products made using natural ingredients in an effort to promote sustainable living and empower rural communities.

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A day at a village square

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As Village Square turns 7 today, we feature a village square from Punjab where elders gather during the day as they return from fields – to take a nap, play cards or just catch up on everyday life.

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Kerala women brew cups of joy with artisanal coffee

A coffee brand created by five women from Pinavoorkudi tribal village in Kerala has grown to become a trusted and favourite blend of beans.

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Reviving Pattu-weaving in Barmer thread by thread

Young weaver Kheta Ram and his group are preserving Pattu weaving, by crafting fabrics steeped in history and creating a market for this traditional art.

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Border tourism boosts Keran village

Standing on the banks of the roaring Kishanganga river, Keran has become a new tourism sensation in J&K bringing both hope and fortune to the villagers.

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A secret beach where Goans party

Situated between the Arabian Sea and the rugged Sahyadri mountains in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, Shiroda is a tranquil, unspoiled getaway, far from the typical tourist hustle and bustle.

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The journey of Kerala’s Chalakudy river

This Rivers Day, explore Chalakudy River, central Kerala's life source, as it journeys for 130 km -- from serene Anaimalai Hills to the Arabian Sea, nurturing lush landscapes and livelihoods.

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‘Helicopter cars’: Bihar mechanic turns cars into ‘choppers’

Bored during the pandemic lockdown in 2020, a mechanic and his two brothers in Bihar’s Saran district started converting cars into helicopter raths (chariots), which are now a craze during weddings.

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Punjab’s daughters revive its cotton weaving tradition

In a remarkable resurgence, 27 women, guided by Rupsi Garg and supported by her Trinjan project, rekindle Punjab’s fading art of spinning and weaving cotton products, gaining financial independence and a deep sense of happiness.