Founder’s Note
Rosna never imagined that her jute products, once crafted quietly in a corner of her home, would one day be displayed proudly in a pop-up shop in Islampur, Murshidabad. She never imagined strangers would walk in, touch her weaves, ask about the patterns, listen to the stories behind them, and walk away with something she had poured her hands and heart into.
Rosna is one of many rural women entrepreneurs (RWEs) in West Bengal who are part of a growing movement led by Digikargha, in partnership with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), a movement that brings dignity, digital access, and market linkages to the hands of women who have always created but were rarely celebrated.
For years, Rosna possessed the skills. She learned the craft from her mother, who learned it from hers. But like many artisans, she lacked the tools and networks to transform her skills into a sustainable livelihood. That changed when she became part of this initiative.
Digikargha and DEF have been working across 10 districts in West Bengal to support women like Rosna with talent, courage, and the will to build something of their own. The approach is simple yet powerful: train women in digital skills, introduce them to e-marketplaces, guide them on how to access entitlements and services, and most importantly, help them believe in the value of their work.
For Rosna, the journey began with learning to use a smartphone not just for calls, but to photograph her products, share them on WhatsApp, and gradually build an online presence. She learned how to apply for government schemes that support small businesses. She sat through sessions on branding, pricing, packaging, all the things she once thought were only for ‘big’ businesses in cities. But this project is not just about training. It is about visibility. And that is where the pop-up shops come in.
The pop-ups are more than just stalls. They are spaces where women display not just their products, but their stories. Each item carries the texture of tradition, the rhythm of generations, and the quiet resilience of rural women who have always created but never been seen. In homes and hamlets across West Bengal, women are stepping into new roles; not just as artisans, but as entrepreneurs, teachers, storytellers, and leaders. And through their journeys, they are preserving traditional crafts while carving out a future on their terms.
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