Five women from rural India are changing the story. Dolly Sarpanch, Roshni Parveen, Mausam Kumari, Rohini Patnaik and Varsha Raikwar are opening new paths for other women.

In a report this year, the World Bank said that even though women constitute half of India’s population, they are disproportionately affected by the country’s economic prosperity.

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In rural India, women face unequal access to education, intense gender discrimination due to patriarchal control over their lives, are often forced into early marriage and have limited overall agency. Lack of employment opportunities, gender restrictions, household chores and child care responsibilities clip their wings and confine them to traditional roles. However, some women are changing this narrative and showing how to break new ground. They are not only contributing to the rural economy but also changing the social dynamics within their communities.

Coming from different parts of India, these women are standing up to combat gender bias in climate action, protest child marriage and challenge social stigmas and prejudices in rural India through their courageous initiatives.