Bangalore: A major part of the Indian economy still lies in the rural areas and villages of the country. Though a huge mass of people are constantly moving to the urban sectors, development of the villages cannot be neglected. With their excellent managerial and entrepreneurial skills, few Indian women have taken up the duty to raise the standard of living in Indian villages and have been really successful at it.

From establishing rural banks for the labors and workers to generating home based businesses for women, these Indian women have setup benchmarks for the younger generation.Naree.com has compiled a list of exemplary women entrepreneurs who have been doing great work at the rural level.

Read on to know more about the women entrepreneurs who are changing the image of our villages.

1. Ela Bhatt

 Founder of SEWA

Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) founded by Ela along with late Arvind Buch, the then president of Textile Labor Association, is a major role player in empowering employment among rural women in Bihar. The association, setup in 1972, assists the women to buy solar bulbs with loans from SEWA and sell or rent them to families in the villages and towns of Bihar. Recognising her excellent work in the field of microfinance and labor, Ela Bhatt has been awarded the Padmashri, the Padmabhushan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award.