How Rural UP Women are Turning Their Tradition into Livelihood

Here’s about How Rural UP Women are Turning Their Tradition into Livelihood

Rural women of rural Uttar Pradesh are making the home work a lucrative earning strategies. Home duty, which was earlier an evil necessity, has been transformed into an empowerment arsenal, an entrepreneurial tool, and a cultural heritage. 

From Home to Handicraft 

Women such as Neha Nishad of Eklavya Self-Help Group, living in Prayagraj villages, are making modest moonj grass into success stories. Their carefully prepared baskets, mats, and ornaments have become rural icons, and tourists go out of the way to spot them. What was a grassroots movement initiated by them has now turned into a money-making business that makes them proud and rich. 

The Cultural Life of Tharu Women 

Tharu women of the Uttar Pradesh Terai are turning cultural identity into a money-making proposition. They are entertaining tourists from the Himmatnagar and Pupraula villages of Lakhimpur Kheri as traditional Tharu thalis, folk songs and dances, and handicrafts. Women like Chiddo Devi have adopted tourism as a means of passing on their heritage and gaining financial independence. They are converting their houses into tradition museums and receive tourists while empowering women along the way. 

From Small Income to Big Dreams 

This is real in the context of finance. The Eklavya SHG had more than ₹2.5 lakh independently earned in 2024–25 through the sale of jute products, and the Lado SHG went over ₹2.75 lakh by trying out workshops and exhibitions. These are not just figures of income — these are in terms of self-respect, self-worth, and being able to dream. 

For women like Aarti Rana who have received Nari Shakti Samman 2024, success remains one milestone at a personal level. She empowers women at a village level now, and she demonstrates empowerment is two-sided if shared. 

Empowerment Through Tourism 

The initiatives of the Uttar Pradesh state in rural tourism are also doing their bit in this direction. With rural tourism, apart from giving life to the local economies, they are also fostering heritage. Every village has its own tale to tell, and women are at the center of all such tales — as producers, hosts, and entrepreneurs. 

The government appeals to the fact that such tourism is eco-friendly and inclusive. It benefits rural families and women in their livelihood without disrupting ecological balance in areas such as Dudhwa and the Terai belt. 

Beyond Income: A Cultural Revolution 

This is not an economics movement by itself — it is a feminist cultural renaissance. They are bringing business and the past together in their company so that more matured crafts and traditions can participate in the modern market. 

With grit, resilience, and strong cultural roots, rural women of Uttar Pradesh redefining empowerment. They’re not clutching tradition — they’re making it into livelihoods that feed families, empower communities, and drive the future.