Seeking a way to curb the financial challenges faced by his family, Faiyas Ali started his carpet-weaving business over a decade ago. Although he faced many ups and downs in running this business, he made sure, with his skills and hard work, that the business grew steadily. In 2017, the community business competition KaunBanega Business Leader was organised in his village, which led him to join the Work4Progress programme. Under the programme, he learned about marketing and received capacity-building training, which helped his business to grow. His business has scaled, and he currently employs 18 craftsmen permanently, who come from nearby areas.

Read the story of Zenmuankim, who heads the administrative unit at the Common Facility Center (CFC) of the Indian Micro Enterprises Development Foundation-Scheme of Funds for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (IMEDF-SFURTI) Aromatic cluster in Churachandpur district, Manipur. She works as a link to collectivise women farmers and in the cluster, extracts lemongrass oil to make products like lemongrass tea, oil, dispensers, etc.

Rehana Bibi is a master trainer of silk yarn reeling at the Indian Micro Enterprises Development Foundation-Scheme of Funds for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (IMEDF-SFURTI) Jungle Mahal Tasar Cluster in West Bengal. She learned the craft as part of capacity-building programmes conducted under IMEDF-SFURTI to promote the Tasar silk value chain among the santhal tribal artisans. Hitherto, she has trained 40-50 women to operate yarn reeling machines.

Read the inspiring story of Sanatan Maity, 91, from Paschim Midnapore, West Bengal, whose journey shows a pledge towards 75 years of self-reliance of upholding craft and economic independence. A master trainer of Taant  (handloom) and Charkha at the Mat and Babui Grass Craft Cluster. Over the years, he has trained over 600+ artisans.

Read the story of V. C. Aliveni from Chintapalle village in Visakhapatnam. She is a part of the cluster that employs 500 coffee producers from tribal communities and links them with traders who procure at fair prices. Visakhapatnam Coffee Cluster is one of the Indian Micro Enterprises Development Foundation-Scheme of Funds for Regeneration of Traditional Industries clusters (IMEDF-SFURTI) clusters, which employs more than 500 coffee producers from 127 villages with tribal communities of over 46,000 members.