Miss Susama Bhuyan, a tribal farmer from Odisha, overcame poverty through training and innovation. She became a successful maize grower, inspiring others and improving the lives of her family and community.

In the heart of a remote tribal community, nestled amidst the verdant landscape, a group of 15 enterprising individuals emerged as the torchbearers of change. Hailing from a tribal community renowned for their traditional bamboo crafting skills, these rural entrepreneurs embarked on a transformative journey that not only preserved their cultural heritage but also propelled them towards economic prosperity.

Nitesh Kumarwat, a boy determined to support his family, witnessed his father's tireless work at a private company, yet receive meager pay. Facing financial constraints, Nitesh, though eager to continue his studies, opted to find work. However, his lack of skills made securing a good job difficult.

Priyanka, a 33-year-old resident of Shastri Nagar, Jaipur, has a husband employed in the private sector. Despite excelling academically from an early age, distinguishing herself as a bright student, Priyanka faced a lack of proper guidance to propel her career forward after completing an M.A. and a Fashion Designing Course in pursuit of financial independence.

On February 18th, a significant event occurred at Tuglakabad: the Suhana Safar Program's Depot intervention took centre stage. Since 2016, this initiative, spearheaded by Development Alternatives, has been a leading example of positive change in skilling supply chains.

The Suhana Safar Program, spearheaded by Development Alternatives (DA) since 2016, has been dedicated to transforming the lives of truck drivers, a demographic often overlooked in community development initiatives. Recognising the dearth of initiatives tailored for this community, DA acknowledges the unique challenges faced by truck drivers, including the lack of access to creature comforts, hygiene, financial stability, and healthcare; due to their demanding lifestyle, DA has endeavoured to provide support and empowerment to this community.

In Thakhatpur, Bilaspur, a beacon of empowerment has emerged under the Rural Industrial Park Ganiyari. Through collaborative efforts, our team has transformed the lives of 400 women by establishing a stitching unit. The backbone of this success story lies in the establishment of a stitching unit equipped with 400 advanced sewing machines.

During one of the Suhana Safar training programs, we met Monvir Singh, a truck driver at the Piyala Depot, Uttar Pradesh. An Uttar Pradesh native, Monvir has spent the last thirteen years working as a truck driver. Previously impressed by the knowledge he gained in the prior session, he returned to the Suhana Safar program to enhance his sector knowledge.

Sudhir Kushwaha is a Work4Progress Phase II entrepreneur from Laadpura in Niwari engaged in the Electronics Retail sector. With initial capital challenges, he gained experience working at a hardware store before starting his own shop, Jai Gaud Baba Electronics, in October 2019.

Brijesh Raja Chauhan, hailing from a small village, defied societal norms and started a tailoring enterprise despite initial resistance from her husband and ire in the Thakur community. Her success inspired a wave of entrepreneurship among women in her village.