In the evolving era of rural development, women empowerment projects have emerged as powerful catalysts of social transformation. From fostering financial independence and educational access to improving healthcare and legal rights, these initiatives aim to break societal barriers and uplift women from the grassroots level. This blog highlights 10 impactful women’s empowerment programs in India that are a blend of government-led missions, backed by NGOs, and underrated yet high-impact community projects redefining the rural Indian landscape for women.
Each of these women empowerment initiatives not only addresses core challenges faced by rural women but also offers sustainable solutions with measurable outcomes, long-term benefits, and promising future potential. Read on!
Women empowerment projects in India
Together, these women empowerment programs reflect a collective movement toward inclusive growth and a more equitable society. Let’s check them out:
1. SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association)
Established in 1972 by Ela Bhatt, SEWA stands as India’s largest union of informal sector women workers, with over 3.2 million members across 18 states. It empowers women through cooperatives, microfinance, healthcare, childcare, insurance, and legal services. This model promotes social security, economic autonomy, and policy advocacy, and has extended its impact into climate resilience through its “Green Transition Centre” and “Swachh Akash” campaign.
SEWA’s integrated structure of unions, cooperatives, and federations has proven a paving stone for holistic grassroots empowerment. Looking ahead, SEWA is well-positioned to scale digital services, deepen climate adaptation eƯorts, and launch more green livelihood ventures, ensuring their informal women members are not just protected but lead sustainable transitions.
Project website: www.sewa.org
2. JEEViKA (Bihar SHG Movement) / NRLM
JEEViKA, initiated in 2007 under the World Bank, supported Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project. It now operates in over 34,000+ villages, mobilizing nearly 1.04 million Self-Help Groups (SHGs), supervised by thousands of village organizations and federations. This model has been scaled nationally through NRLM. In Bihar alone, JEEViKA groups have leveraged more than ₹11,000+ crore in bank credit and mobilized over ₹1,100+ crore in savings by SHG members, creating a widespread livelihood ecosystem.
Some of the benefits include financial inclusion, nutritional access, sanitation improvement, local leadership and resilience building. With its proven achievements and integration, JEEViKA is a powerful program for future expansions involving climate smart agriculture, digital platforms, and value-chain market access to uplift even more rural households.
Project website: brlps.in/Ihome
3. Kudumbashree (Kerala Women’s Mission)
Kudumbashree which is also Asia’s largest women’s community network comprises of 3.17 lakh Neighborhood Groups, 19,500+ Area Development Societies, and 1,070+ Community Development Societies, totaling nearly 4.8 million women (as of March 2025). Its members have accumulated collective savings of ₹9,370+ crore, reinforcing their financial independence and enabling micro enterprises.
All female initiatives like the “She Lodge” in Kochi and the “Snehitha” support line for survivors of gender-based violence both highlight Kudumbashree’s potential from entrepreneurship to social protection. The key strengths include community-led governance, economic inclusion, social upliftment which sets the stage for further innovation through digital marketplaces, replication in other states, and scaling enterprise systems powered by women.
Project website: www.kudumbashree.org
4. Educate Girls (Rural Girls’ Education NGO)
Since its 2007 inception, Educate Girls has enrolled nearly 380,000+ Alumni girls and engaged over 6.7 million beneficiaries, improving education index in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Through community mobilization and volunteer networks, the NGO improves school retention, builds foundational learning, and builds girls’ leadership skills. Educate Girls has garnered recognition through the Skoll and WISE Awards. Key benefits include enhanced literacy, empowerment, and community trust. Sustained impact opens scope for new funding possibilities like development impact bonds and geographic expansion to other underprivileged regions.
Women NGO website: www.educategirls.ngo
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5. Mann Deshi Bank (Women-run Rural Bank, Maharashtra)
Founded by Chetna Sinha, Mann Deshi Bank serves 100,000+ women account holders in rural Maharashtra, providing loans exclusively to women entrepreneurs and financial literacy programs. It empowers women by offering accessible banking for small businesses and driving financial independence in underserved areas.
Future prospects of the project are digital financial services, policy scaling of women-led banking models, and expanding market linkages for rural enterprises. One of the most promising women empowerment projects in India!
Project website: manndeshibank.com
6. EWOK (Enabling Women of Kamand, IIT Mandi)
Launched in 2016 by IIT Mandi, EWOK has nurtured 12+ startups, engaging over 60 women entrepreneurs in domains like essential oils, agri-business, and digital services. By offering incubation, mentorship, and market access, EWOK is developing a sustainable mindset in rural innovation.
Its core benefits include women’s entrepreneurship, job creation, and skill-building. Scaling similar high-impact incubation models across other regions can foster women-led rural entrepreneurship ecosystems. A promising women empowerment project run by youth.
NGO website: www.ewok.in
7. Bina Devi aka Mushroom Lady of Bihar
Bina Devi’s initiative in Bihar has empowered 1,500+ women across 105+ villages through low capital, domestic mushroom farming enterprises. Recognized with the Nari Shakti Puraskar, her ideation offers an accessible income source for women with limited means.
Income diversification and local mentorship combined with its replicable design, point to potential expansion through formal agri-enterprise networks, digital platforms, and rural micro-franchises. A women empowerment project started by a brave woman!
8. Jal Sahelis (Women Water Warriors, Bundelkhand)
In Bundelkhand, over 1,000+ women have restored water systems across 200+ villages by constructing check dams, reviving ponds, and activating community water governance. This not only improves water security, increases agricultural yield, but also strengthens women’s leadership in resource management.
The project underscores environmental awareness with social equity and can inspire large scale water conservation policies and integration into state and national watershed programs.
Project website: parmarthindia.com/jal-saheli/
9. Sambhali Trust, Rajasthan
Operating more than 10+ Empowerment Centres and 3 Boarding Homes, Sambhali Trust has empowered over 77,800+ women, children, and gender minorities through education, vocational training, shelter, self-defenses, and psychosocial support. Its holistic features build self-confidence, educational opportunity, and safety for marginalized communities.
Scaling this through partnerships with states or deploying mobile empowerment units could extend impact across more remote regions. A promising women empowerment NGO active in Rajasthan.
NGO website: www.sambhali.org
10. Seva Bharati (National Vocational Training Network)
With 1,400+ training centres across India, Seva Bharati equips underprivileged women with vocational skills ranging from handicrafts and weaving to computer literacy and nursing. This creates sustainable livelihood opportunities which not only benefits employability and cottage-industry growth but also future expansions through e-commerce integration, rural employment linkages, and skill-institution partnerships can amplify its reach and impact.
Support this women empowerment organization to bring change.
Women NGO website: sevabharati.in
Support women empowerment projects in India
These 10 women oriented projects demonstrate the breadth and depth of women’s empowerment across rural India. Their key prospects span across financial independence, leadership, education, skill-building, social protection, and environmental stewardship. With growing digital capacity, climate resilience focus, and systemic scalability, these efforts hold the potential to transform rural landscapes, bridge gender gaps, and shape a more equitable and resilient future.
Are you familiar with a women empowerment project, self help group, or NGO in India that’s doing commendable work? Tell us in the comments!
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Sumita Pradhan
Sumita is a curious and creative IPM student at IIM Jammu, passionate about design, storytelling, and building smart, impactful ideas. With a love for research, writing, and communication, she thrives at the intersection of creativity and strategy. Reach out at sumita300606@gmail.com
