Rudra Pratap Singh
For years, Amita Chouhan dreamed of a career in healthcare, but early marriage and family responsibilities put her aspirations on hold. “I don’t want to work in a hospital as a nurse — I want to do something for the people of my village,” says Amita, a mother of two from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. It was only when she joined Plustrust’s ‘Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHE) Fellowship’ that she found a way to bring medical services to her village while continuing her education.
Amita’s story mirrors the challenges faced by countless women across India who encounter societal barriers preventing them from achieving financial independence. However, through small but meaningful interventions, many are rewriting their narratives, and one organization is helping them do just that — Plustrust.
A Vision for Change
Plustrust, a Bengaluru-based social enterprise, has been supporting rural women entrepreneurs since 2008. Through its micro-incubation model, it provides mentorship, financial backing, and training, enabling women to turn their ideas into reality. The organization has supported 289 fellows across 13 states, with 89% of them being women from villages and small towns.
Founded by Dr. Lalitha Iyer, a former banker and consultant, Plustrust is built on the belief that women can drive change if given the right support. “Many women had never spoken to a man outside their family before becoming fellows. Now they address village meetings,” Dr. Lalitha explains. The organization’s six-month fellowship programs provide financial stipends, hands-on training, and project management skills, ensuring that women gain confidence and self-reliance.
Plustrust has collaborated with various organizations to bring healthcare innovations to rural areas, including rapid thyroid testing devices and home-based ECG machines. It also runs multiple fellowship programs tailored to different social needs:
• Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHE) Fellowship: Equips women with healthcare solutions, focusing on diagnostics and awareness.
• Rural Women Edupreneur (RWE) Fellowship: Supports women in creating innovative learning spaces.
• Return to Roots (RTR) Fellowship: Provides skill development for migrant workers returning to their native villages.
• Changemaker Fellowship: Helps urban youth implement grassroots social change initiatives.
Beyond these, Plustrust fellows work on initiatives promoting women’s health, social inclusion, and sustainable businesses.
Three Women, One Mission
From Ayodhya to Ujjain to Udaipur, three women have transformed their communities through Plustrust’s support. Their stories highlight resilience, determination, and the power of opportunity.
Simmi: The Educator Who Built a Movement
Growing up in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, Simmi saw firsthand how girls were denied opportunities due to gender bias. Determined to challenge societal norms, she pursued a career in education. In 2016, she joined Plustrust’s RWE Fellowship, leading to the creation of Prerna Kishori Vikas Kendra, a center providing life skills education to adolescent girls.
With Plustrust’s guidance, Simmi expanded her work, securing the Wipro Seeding Fellowship (2018-2020) and establishing a teacher training center. Today, she leads a team addressing gender violence and youth health, helping over 400 girls gain confidence and awareness. Despite challenges, she remains dedicated to fostering inclusive education and empowering young women.
Amita: The Healer Who Found Her Calling
Married young and unable to pursue her education, Amita Chouhan’s dreams of working in healthcare seemed distant. However, in 2022, she joined the CHE Fellowship, learning essential medical diagnostics. Through perseverance, she built trust in her village, conducting health tests and saving lives—such as detecting dangerously low oxygen levels in an elderly woman, a moment that cemented her reputation as a community health leader.
Today, Amita earns an income from health tests and workshops, while pursuing a nursing degree. She envisions a future where she can continue serving her village through a Plustrust-supported clinic incorporating telemedicine.
Khushnoor: The Entrepreneur Who Created Opportunities
In Udaipur, Rajasthan, Khushnoor Bano defied societal norms to pursue financial independence. Forced to leave school after Class 10, she was married young, but remained determined to uplift other women. Her journey changed in 2021 when she attended a Plustrust workshop through a Self-Help Group.
With training in business planning and product development, she launched a successful soap-making enterprise, supplying cleaning products to banks and government offices. Her business now employs five women and earns over Rs 30,000 a month, inspiring other families to support women’s education and entrepreneurship.
The Ripple Effect
Plustrust’s impact extends beyond individual success stories—it creates lasting community change. Whether providing access to healthcare, improving education, or fostering economic independence, its fellows are catalysts for transformation.
“These women are breaking barriers and shaping a future where every woman can dream—and every dream has a chance to come true,” says Dr. Lalitha. Through its unwavering commitment to rural women entrepreneurs, Plustrust is proving that empowerment is not just about opportunity—it’s about redefining what’s possible.