On its 10th anniversary, Gaon Connection releases a unique compendium — 50 Success Stories of Rural Women in the Pandemic

Today, on December 2, Gaon Connection, turns ten. Commemorating the occasion, India's largest rural media platform, launches an e-book titled 50 Success Stories of Rural Women in the Pandemic. This report is a collection of stories of extraordinary courage, grit and determination of village women who stood up to the pandemic. It is available for a free download on Gaon Connection's website.

The 250-page e-book deals with the travails, hopes, innovations and successes of rural women. These are usually shadow women, who are rarely seen and never heard. But, Gaon Connection has consistently searched them out, spoken to them, heard their stories, recorded their achievements and brought them to the attention of the world at large.

Talking about Gaon Connection and the importance of its work, its founder Neelesh Misra said: "Far away from the sensational primetime headlines and the trending hashtags and the reels, the real India lives in its humility and anonymity, facing its everyday challenges and winning its everyday victories. Transformative stories that are changing lives — for better or worse — are unfolding in India every day. Nearly all of them never make it to the mainstream media."

"At Gaon Connection, it is our duty to document with honesty and empathy these tales that give us inspiration and courage — wherever we might live, in a city or a village, and whatever we might be pursuing in life. The stories of these 50 women inspire us, provoke us, and tell us far more about rural India than hundreds of thick books will," he added.

The report — 50 Success Stories of Rural Women in the Pandemic — is divided into four broad themes. These include Women Entrepreneurs in India, Women Farmers in India, Women Healthcare Workers, and Sportswomen in India. There are stories from every nook and corner of the country.

Speaking about the compilation, Gaon Connection's Managing Editor Nidhi Jamwal said, "Rural India has always lacked a voice and for the past one decade, Gaon Connection has tried to find and listen to that voice and make it heard. And this report is a part of that effort."

"During the pandemic, while most people were locked up inside their homes, Gaon Connection's community journalists, who come from the villages and small towns, painstakingly documented stories of the impact of COVID19 on rural India. And we learnt how despite the daunting challenges posed by the pandemic, so many rural women emerged as entrepreneurs," Jamwal pointed out.

These are inspiring stories of rural women that are hard to find in mainstream media. But, in this e-book, rural women share their stories of being healthcare workers, successful farmers, craftspeople, entrepreneurs, and athletes.

The COVID19 pandemic turned the world upside down and as always, women bore a huge brunt of that. Along with fending for their families, putting food on their plates and clothes on their backs, the women now had the added responsibility of keeping them safe. And they did that admirably and against all odds.

The e-book highlights not their tales of woe but their stories of courage as they, tucked their pallu firmly around their waist, and ran businesses, administered vaccines, grew food, fed animals, planted trees, wove baskets, made furniture and saved lives.

To download 50 Success Stories of Rural Women in the Pandemic, click here.