A Saheli’s Story
Through She Leads Bharat Renu has become part of the transformative effect of the movement. A powerful network of thousands of women who are becoming self-reliant and giving livelihoods to other women, creating value for society.
At 12, Renu was a typical young girl, living in a rural village with her parents and siblings. With little money, the family worked hard, but it was a loving home. By 13, she was a bride, sent to live with strangers—her husband's family – and was under the supervision of her new mother-in-law.
With little knowledge of household management or growing crops, she was scolded for every mistake, isolated and dismissed by those around her.
By 15, she was a mother. By 18, she had borne several children. With no guidance or support her days consumed by endless chores and exhaustion. She was deeply unhappy, with no-one to turn to , no resources to rely on, and no ability to make decisions on her own. Her future was decided, like her mother’s before her.
Yet, somewhere inside, she knew she was capable of more, given the chance.
The Turning Point
Everything began to change when Renu was able to join a government self-help programme. The programme gave her a reason to leave the house and join a community of women; it gave her access to a bank account and a growing sense of her own identity and self-worth. She grew in confidence. a meeting with a Saheli – a ‘close friend’ – from the She Leads Bharat initiative introduced her to a new path.
Over time, with access to guidance and training from the Saheli, together they found solutions to her everyday challenges and her situation was transformed. Renu was hungry to learn more, to do more for her family, to increase her income and be recognised as a valuable member of her community. Eventually she became a Saheli herself – determined to break old generational patterns and elevate other young women, providing them with the opportunities to realise their true potential.
The Challenge
The challenges in rural India require innovative, multi-layered, scalable solutions that address immediate needs while driving long-term economic transformation.
When I first stepped out of the house to become a Solar Saheli, people whispered, ‘She’s breaking purdah, stepping out in the village like a salesperson.
I believed that light is every household's right. Today, I’m not just selling solar torches, lanterns and induction stoves, I’m helping my village move from darkness to dignity.
From children who now study at night, to families cooking without choking on smoke, people are changing what they buy and how they live. I’m no longer just Savitri—I am a trusted name, a symbol of progress.
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