No Job is Too Small: How Ajmer's women are defining empowerment

35-year-old Shanti Devi runs a tea shop near Subhash Garden in Ajmer. Her shop is a favorite stop for tourists throughout the year. After her husband left, Shanti took on the responsibility of raising her three children. The income from the tea shop, though modest, sustains her family’s needs. Photo credit: Rukhsana/charkha.org

Her daughters also help her with the shop. They have sacrificed their education to contribute to the family’s survival. They had no choice but to support their mother, as the money spent on education was not enough to cover the household expenses. Photo credit: Rukhsana/charkha.org

Maimuna, like Shanti and Sameena, also runs a tea stall near Subhash Garden. Along with tea, she sells biscuits and other small grocery items. Maimuna and her husband commute daily from their village, Nagfani, to Ajmer. She has three grown-up children, but none of them went to school. Despite not being able to send her children to school, Maimuna’s business remains stable due to the constant flow of tourists visiting Ana Sagar Lake. The tourists often stop by her tea stall after visiting the lake, which keeps her business running and helps support her family. Photo credit: Rukhsana/charkha.org

Sameena, 50, runs a small shop on the footpath outside Subhash Garden, selling toys, candies, and biscuits. She started her business after her husband passed away to support her four children. Sameena earns around 400 to 500 rupees a day but has to spend a large portion of it on rent for her house. For the last 14 years, Sameena has faced many difficulties in running her shop. Municipal authorities often warn her to remove her stall, but she continues to work hard. Setting up a permanent shop is too expensive, so she keeps her business going on the footpath to feed her family. Photo credit: Rukhsana/charkha.org

Sundar Devi, 51, runs a corn stall at Fawwara Chowk, close to Subhash Garden. She has been selling roasted corn for 25 years and earns about 300 rupees a day. Sundar’s husband left her after a few years of marriage, and since then, she has been raising her children alone. Her children couldn't attend school due to financial difficulties, but now they assist her in running the corn stall. Sundar says her corn sells consistently, with the highest demand in the evening when people enjoy it with tea. Despite challenges, Sundar continues working to support her family. Photo credit: Rukhsana/charkha.org

Sangeeta, 35, sells small idols near Fawwara Chowk. Most of these are idols of Lord Ganesha, which sell particularly well during the festive season. Sangeeta makes the idols herself and earns a good income during peak times. She has three children who are all attending school. Although Sangeeta only studied up to the 12th grade, she values education and wants her children to study and become successful. She says that while she couldn’t pursue much education, she is determined to give her children a better future. She wants them to become successful professionals. Photo credit: Rukhsana/charkha.org

These women’s daily struggles for livelihood may seem common, but they are remarkable in a male-dominated society where women face many obstacles. They are not just working for their families; they are fighting for the empowerment of every woman who wants financial independence. Photo credit: Pexels.com