16/04/2026
Umeed Rural Women entrepreneurs Fellowship
Umeed Rural Women entrepreneurs Fellowship Plus Trust
in collaboration with
Samaveshak Samajik Vikas Sanstha
is being implemented in Satara , sangali, Kolhapur district, westrn Maharashtra, under the guidance of Shaila Yadav, Samaveshak organization & Moin Khan Puls Trust to support women and young women from marginalized and underprivileged rural communities.
This six-month fellowship provides financial assistance, mentorship, and strong networking opportunities to help women strengthen their business ideas and move towards sustainable livelihoods.
The core objective of this program is to nurture grassroots women social entrepreneurs by building their confidence, leadership abilities, and economic independence.
The first batch in Satara district has been successfully completed, and the second batch is currently underway. In this cycle, five women have been selected for six months. Through this fellowship, they are strengthening their skills, refining their business ideas, and steadily moving toward economic self-reliance. Importantly, these women are not only building their own capacities but are also supporting and mobilizing other women in their communities, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and collective growth.
Profiles of Selected Fellows:
Dipali Pandhare (Maan Block, Satara District) – Advancing her professional skills in the beauty sector through an advanced beautician course to expand and professionalize her enterprise.
Pooja Lakhe (Kolhapur District) – Running a home-based tailoring business and currently pursuing advanced training in Aari work and fabric painting to diversify her income opportunities. Rohini Madane( Khatav Block satara dist ) – A young woman from a nomadic community who runs mobile study support classes for children of migrant families by visiting their temporary settlements, ensuring access to quality education.Surekha Supne– Engaged in tailoring work and working towards building a stronger entrepreneurial identity.
Varsha Edge – A single woman who is completing her interrupted education while simultaneously working on developing her professional skills and business ideas.
These women were selected not only for their entrepreneurial ideas but also for their resilience, lived experiences, and determination to stand on their own feet. They are emerging as community-level social entrepreneurs with growing confidence and leadership.
In today’s competitive world, rural women’s ideas and innovations are gaining strength and visibility.
The essence of this initiative lies in:
“Becoming self-reliant and enabling others to rise.” With our limited resources, we are continuously striving to strengthen marginalized and excluded women economically and socially.
We invite individuals, institutions, and supporters to join hands with us to expand this initiative and reach more women across rural communities.
