# Getting the marginalized people who’ve been hit hardest by the virus back to work and back into the economy

India has become one of the major economies in the developing world, with an average growth rate of about 7% over the past decade. Strong economic development has been made in the areas of technology, services and infrastructure.
The difficulty to market their goods and services is one of the big problems rural entrepreneurs face. The ambitions of rural Indians are generally restricted by three major access barriers
Restricted physical Connectivity(access to major city and electricity)
Restricted digital Connectivity(Internet Connectivity)
Restricted inclusiveness of Finance(access to banks)
Non awareness of services for entrepreneurs contributes to the initial failure of potential entrepreneurs. This also creates a significant difference between rural and urban living standards. The gap among rural and urban growth is a real concern in the post-independence development process, and this gap should be effectively plugged in order to achieve an inclusive growth rate. Developing entrepreneurship affairs in the rural areas seems to be the only solution to the problem. The tremendous reversal of the movement of workforce from towns to villages has once again exposed the overwhelming concentration of economic resources in urban areas of the nation. Yet securing employment and local economies for these workforce remains a barrier. Employment for these workforces needs to be established outside the agriculture industry. Thus the need to provide ability based mentoring and work to ensure expertise.
Women in rural areas play a significant role as laborers, daily wage earners and sometimes as entrepreneurs in the regional livelihood. Often, they take accountability of their family members, including the provision of food, raising children and taking care of senior citizens. Still, in few rural areas women face restrictions, unequal participation in economic activities due to gender based inequality and social customs, participation in unpaid labor and insufficient attention to schooling, health, land and economic and other facilities. In order to achieve the transformative economic, environmental and social changes necessary for sustainable growth, rural women are major participants. Empowering women is important not only to the well-being of rural communities but also to increase the economic output as a whole, considering the significant inclusion of women in the nation’s agricultural sector.
Studies have shown that local women have been able to share their thoughts on village affairs, with their interest reinforced by new skills and choices. Community spaces for marginal communities play a big part in enhancing livelihood and rural economy. This self-designed teaching method allows local residents of all levels and social economic groups to create their own personalized educational programs instead of implementing an exclusive approach. Also training provides them with expertise to seek new livelihood opportunities and responding to the needs through technologies. By starting a solar power based community hub where people can get together, teach and also learn to be a part of the community and solve all kinds of issue in the area. It will also be a power bank for the entire village where women can learn about the power management and utilize the space to the most; they can also charge their electric based equipment and tools. This initiative will lead to self-sustainable living as well as it will create employment opportunities if they move to cities and towns. This will help them in designing their own tools which will be electrically powered and as these tools will ease their work as well.
How proper training and mentoring can change livelihood was proved by Gurmet Angmo, who holds an extraordinary intelligence and ability. She is mother of 2 who turned into a solar engineer after her training in solar engineering for 6 months with Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE).
Gurmet’s message to other women struggling with the formal education system and unable to find work, but willing to make something of their lives is simple. “Don’t just rely on education. Government jobs are limited, and you must do something on your own. And if you have a burning desire to do something, you can do it. There’s nothing impossible if we just dare to do it. We just need to take that first step,” she says.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/242403/ladakh-markha-valley-gurmet-angmo-solar-power-electrification-engineer-meghalaya-south-garo-hills-india-nor41/

To provide rural communities with employment, training is very much necessary for people who are familiar with technology, have productive resources and also combined influence of women from marginal groups. Recognizing this ability, many foundations are now aiming to encourage workers from marginal areas to become rural entrepreneurs and to pursue greater opportunities.
Reference https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/news-atmanirbhar-bharat-how-companies-promoting-rural-entrepreneurship-pandemic-635998
This is a promising activity as it has the capacity to provide direct income. It will result in new jobs, specifically targeting young women. This will also lead to greater financial income and independence for women, and will aid their participation in the public sphere.