Women entrepreneurs are redefining what development looks like in India’s most remote corners.
Across tribal communities, women are turning age-old skills into sustainable livelihoods, proving that economic independence can grow from cultural roots rather than at their expense.
At just 24, Debongshi Chakma is doing exactly that. From Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, the young entrepreneur has built a 500-member collective that is helping women earn livelihoods through traditional tribal crafts while ensuring that the cultural heritage of the Chakma community continues to thrive.
Building opportunities where they are needed most
For Debongshi, entrepreneurship was never just about business.
As a member of the Chakma tribe, she grew up surrounded by rich cultural traditions, from weaving and bamboo craftsmanship to indigenous food practices and jhum cultivation.
But she also witnessed the challenges many women in her community faced, particularly those dealing with economic hardship or social vulnerabilities, including divorced women.
Instead of seeing these realities as limitations, she saw an opportunity to create change.
Tribal women at work, weaving bamboo and textiles that carry forward generations of cultural knowledge and craftsmanship. Photograph: (Life and More)
Through Bodhibloom Society, she brought together women artisans, farmers, and craftspeople under one collective platform. Today, the organisation supports livelihoods across multiple sectors, including handwoven textiles, bamboo-based products, traditional foods, and sustainable farming practices.
“I do not want to see any woman suffering or unemployed,” says Debongshi.
“My vision is to create opportunities so that every woman in my community is self-reliant and empowered. I want to preserve our traditions and proudly represent our culture on the global stage.”
Turning heritage into sustainable livelihoods
What makes Debongshi’s journey particularly significant is that it challenges a common misconception — that preserving tradition and pursuing economic growth are opposing goals.
Her work demonstrates the opposite.
Every handwoven textile, bamboo creation, or traditional product emerging from Bodhibloom Society carries generations of tribal knowledge. Yet these products are not confined to local markets.
They are being positioned for contemporary consumers who increasingly value handmade, sustainable, and culturally authentic goods.
Traditional products from Mizoram reaching national platforms through TRIFED, opening new doors for rural women entrepreneurs. Photograph: (Press Information Bureau)
In a region where access to large-scale infrastructure and mechanised production remains limited, this approach has created new pathways for income while ensuring that traditional skills remain relevant for younger generations.
The result is a model where cultural identity becomes an economic strength rather than a barrier.
From remote villages to national markets
A crucial part of this journey has been market access.
Through collaboration with TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India), Debongshi’s products are now reaching audiences far beyond Mizoram.
The partnership connects tribal producers to larger retail and e-commerce networks, helping artisans access customers who value the craftsmanship behind their products.
Women of tribal communities shaping a new model of development where culture, livelihood, and dignity grow together. Photograph: (30 Stades & Vikalp Sangam)
This support is part of a broader effort to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship across India. Through initiatives such as Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, tribal producers receive support in value addition, packaging, branding, skill development, and market linkages, enabling communities to earn greater value from their work.
For entrepreneurs like Debongshi, such platforms bridge the gap between local production and national visibility.
Weaving a different future
The story of Debongshi Chakma is not just about selling crafts. It is about creating dignity through livelihoods, ensuring that women have economic agency, and proving that indigenous knowledge still holds immense value in a rapidly changing world.
In many ways, Bodhibloom Society represents a larger shift taking place across tribal India — one where women are emerging as architects of development.
As Debongshi continues to expand opportunities for hundreds of women, she is showing that the most resilient enterprises are often those rooted in tradition and shaped for the future.
