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Dear all,

Across SEWA Bharat, women are building change from the ground up, through work, voice and collective action. From nano entrepreneurs growing their incomes, to women in Punjab speaking about everyday challenges, to skill training in Jaipur opening new opportunities, these stories carry one shared truth: when women are supported, they move forward with courage, confidence and solidarity. This International Women’s Day, too, that spirit was seen across states, in both celebration and action.

Happy Reading!
SEWA Bharat Communications Team

“I am Atole from Nagaland, a street vendor and now also a pickle entrepreneur. Before COVID-19, I used to sell organic vegetables and fruits by the roadside, earning ₹6,000–7,000 a day. But after we were moved into a market space inside the town, my income dropped drastically – sometimes to nothing. I did not want to stop there. I began selling in weekly and bigger markets, where I could earn ₹15,000–20,000 a day, and I turned my passion for cooking into a business.

With training and support, I learned packaging, labeling and online marketing, and today my pickle brand, Mother Touch, is being sold on Amazon. Now I earn ₹40,000–50,000 a month, but I dream of growing this to ₹1.5–2 lakh by bringing more women into my work and creating opportunities for them. My journey is about not giving up, adapting to change, and building something of my own with confidence”.

“I am Usha from Raghubir Nagar, Delhi. My life has seen many hardships – there was a time when I sat at home doing small stitching work, barely earning enough to survive, and even felt like giving up on life. But when I looked at my daughter, I knew I had to keep going. I joined SEWA to start saving, and when my house was locked due to unpaid rent, I was guided to take a loan instead of breaking my savings. That decision changed everything. I tried running a food cart, but when it did not work, I took another loan and brought an e-rickshaw and now I’m a successful e-rickshaw driver”.

At the AWE–WEE Connect 2026 event, co-organised by ACCESS Development Services, AWE India Network and SEWA Bharat on 17 March 2026, discussions on strengthening nano enterprises reinforced an important truth: women nano entrepreneurs represent one of the largest, yet least visible, segments of India’s economy. Most women-led enterprises are small, informal and shaped by care responsibilities, limited capital and constrained market access. The challenge is not a lack of effort or aspiration among women, but the absence of systems that adequately recognise and enable their growth.

A key takeaway from the event was that women-led nano enterprises need more than isolated interventions. They require an enabling ecosystem built on better definitions and data, flexible finance, stronger market linkages, simplified compliance pathways and continuous handholding. “Today, I drive confidently and earn to support my family, ignoring the men who create problems in my line of work. My daughters are studying – one is in college and dreams of doing a PhD – and I am determined to financially support them. I want to own multiple rickshaws, grow my income and help other women move forward too. My journey has taught me that with courage, timely financial support, and the will to keep going, no hardship is bigger than your determination”, added Usha ben.

“What inspires me most to continue working with SEWA is the feeling that if I am learning something valuable, then I must keep going. The income may not always be much, but through SEWA’s work, NRLM responsibilities, cultural programmes, fairs and other activities, I can support women like me. For me, this work is not only about earning; it is about standing with my sisters, solving problems together and helping women move forward with dignity, equality and confidence”, said Vilochana ben, an aagewan (woman community leader at SEWA) from Uttarakhand who is always ready to solve community issues and has also supported flood relief efforts in the past.

“Before joining SEWA in 2022, I did not feel independent or capable, and my family would not allow me to step outside the house freely. There were many questions, restrictions and a lack of trust. But over time, my journey with SEWA changed that. Today, I feel self-reliant, fearless and confident enough to work in the field, conduct memberships and support other sisters as well. What once felt impossible – stepping out, learning new things and enabling other women to do the same – has now become a part of my everyday life”, said Soni ben, a creche worker with SEWA from Patna, Bihar.

International Women’s Day 2026 across SEWA Bharat’s states was marked by moments that felt both joyful and deeply grounded in women’s everyday lives. In Delhi, women moved from a discussion on the meaning of Women’s Day to playing cricket and musical chairs together; in Bihar, over 400 women gathered for a Shramik Mahotsav filled with songs, dance and a powerful play on Mazdoor se Kisan; and in Punjab, children performed in honour of their mothers after aagewans spoke about livelihoods, skills and women’s health.

In other states, too, the day became a space for both celebration and connection. In Uttarakhand, events included health check-ups, Ayushman card support and free medicines; in Rajasthan, women shared personal life stories during a game of truth and dare before coming together for a collective Iftar (an evening meal observed during the month of Ramzan); while in West Bengal, women raised concerns on pensions, migration and unequal wages directly with government officials. In Nagaland, SEWA members celebrated through games, sports and experience-sharing under the theme Give to Gain. Together, these moments made Women’s Day feel less like a formal event and more like a living expression of women’s voice, visibility and viability.

A key takeaway from the event was that women-led nano enterprises need more than isolated interventions. They require an enabling ecosystem built on better definitions and data, flexible finance, stronger market linkages, simplified compliance pathways and continuous handholding. “Today, I drive confidently and earn to support my family, ignoring the men who create problems in my line of work. My daughters are studying – one is in college and dreams of doing a PhD – and I am determined to financially support them. I want to own multiple rickshaws, grow my income and help other women move forward too. My journey has taught me that with courage, timely financial support, and the will to keep going, no hardship is bigger than your determination”, added Usha ben.

“In Punjab, drug use and domestic violence continue to be a big issue. From small children to adults, it has spared no one. My husband is also a victim of this disease and we have been living separately. I used to do stitching work, but it was not sufficient to raise my children, so I started working as a domestic worker. I’m currently earning Rs. 12,000 and look after the financial needs of my family by myself. Sometimes, there’s no water supply in Jagatpura (where she lives) for 2-3 continuous days. I have to then fetch water from a place which is far away from my home, which prevents me from going to work”, said Jaspreet ben, a domestic worker and SEWA member from Punjab (name changed for privacy).

“Because the area where we live is unauthorised, there was no anganwadi for children in the community. For two to three years, we continuously followed up with the District Collector and submitted letters asking for one. These efforts eventually resulted in the construction of an anganwadi, but its operations are yet to begin. An anganwadi or a daycare centre is necessary for mothers so that they can work peacefully. Recently, there was a case where some young children were lured to a nearby mall, but thankfully their parents got to know and they were brought back safely”, said Maya ben, an aagewan and home-based worker with SEWA Punjab.

SEWA Punjab convened government departments, NGOs and civil society organisations at the 4th edition of Sanjha Samvaad, held on 25th March – bringing diverse voices together around a shared goal: advancing stronger, more coordinated action for women’s empowerment across Punjab. Designed as a multi-stakeholder platform, the convening enabled meaningful dialogue, hands-on workshops and pathways for collaborative action – strengthening partnerships that can drive sustained, on-ground impact.

The discussions revolved around issues related to menstrual sanitation and domestic violence. While some of the strengths included ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, dispensaries, counsellors and NGOs, some gaps included lack of awareness, weak community-level outreach and need for stronger referral systems. Some insights that came from the event included –

– Need for a state-level platform for better coordination across departments and institutions

– Stronger grievance redressal systems for women at the grassroots

– Importance of district and zonal follow-up meetings

– Greater collaboration among NGOs and stakeholders

– More training and capacity-building opportunities

“We would get dirty water in our area (Bahadur Singh Basti, Moga, Punjab). Our children would fall sick drinking the water and we had to order water tankers, which was another hassle. During a community meeting, this issue was raised, which was attended by the Municipal Councillor and the mayor. After numerous follow-ups, the water pipeline was repaired and a clean water supply was provided to the residents through the efforts of SEWA Punjab’s aagewans (women community leaders) Mandeep ben and Kuldeep ben”, said Jaspreet ben, Area In-Charge, Moga, Punjab. SEWA Punjab shall continue advancing efforts towards women’s empowerment and working with them to provide basic services and rightful entitlements.

“Recently, a livelihood training was organised for our group that was formed in February, and I really enjoyed being part of it. In the training, I learned to make decorative birds and hangings, which was interesting. Usually, I do bangle work and sometimes sewing. While this work does not always seem very difficult from the outside, the chemicals used in bangle work often stick to my body, and I often have to remove them using a sharp tool. Even after putting in so much effort, the earnings are very little. Sewing too brings only a small profit these days”, said Alisha ben, a bangle maker and home-based worker from Jaipur, Rajasthan.

“I learned Kantha work through the training itself, and it has now become an important part of the work I do along with sewing. In the training, we learned how to make fabric earrings, garlands and decorative items like birds and elephants, which I found quite useful and interesting. I am also connected to SEWA through our self-help group of ten women, where we save money together every month and support each other in times of need. Most of my Kantha work orders come through the office, and I do the work from home”, added Pinki ben, a home-based worker and SEWA member from Jaipur, Rajasthan.

A four-day SHG (Self-Help Group) Livelihood Skill Training helped women learn how to turn leftover fabric scraps into useful, income-generating products. Through hands-on sessions, they learned interlocking, fabric cutting, handmade earrings, garlands, Kantha work, stole design, decorative birds, wall hangings, embroidery and patchwork. The training showed that even small pieces of cloth can be used creatively to make attractive products from home.

Over the four days, the women gained both new skills and new possibilities for earning. Guided by trainers Saroj ben and Chhavi ben, they practised each step closely and began making their own products. By the end of the training, many participants shared that they had learned something new and could now continue practising at home.

“I have taken part in two or three trainings so far, and each one has helped me to learn something new. Whenever I get stuck on a design, I use YouTube on my phone to understand it better. For me, these trainings are not only about learning skills – they have also changed how I see myself. Earlier, I hardly stepped out of the house, but now I speak to people, go out more easily, and feel much more confident. That change has been very meaningful for me”, added Pinki ben.