How Raj Uphaar Empowers Gujarat’s Tribal Women for Global Markets

Celebrating rural women on International Day of Rural Women through a transformative initiative in South Gujarat’s tribal regions. This program combines training, dedicated workplaces, and village networks to empower women and create a successful product line sold globally.

A candle’s journey from village to global markets
A candle originating from a tribal village near Dharampur, Gujarat’s Valsad district, might find its way into a corporate Diwali gift package. Poured by a local woman, packaged by her peers, and shipped under the label “Raj Uphaar,” this candle represents a significant shift in rural women’s economic opportunities.

Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD) highlights that over 90% of materials used in these products come from local sources. Raj Uphaar’s offerings now reach more than 750 stores across 26 countries, supported by prominent Indian corporations. This success contrasts sharply with the starting point for many of these women.

The importance of the day
October 15 is observed as the UN’s International Day of Rural Women, underscoring the often-undervalued contributions of rural women in maintaining households and agricultural economies. In India’s tribal areas, challenges like seasonal work and lack of transferable skills exacerbate these issues.

Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC), SRMD’s humanitarian arm, aims to address these gaps through a holistic approach: combining skills training, creating meaningful workplaces, and building village-level networks to connect rural women to broader markets.

Establishing a women-centered workplace
The Shrimad Rajchandra Sarvamangal Centre of Excellence for Women, an 11-acre facility near Dharampur’s ashram, serves as the initiative’s core. The 2-lakh-square-foot campus features advanced production systems, a vertical warehouse, and digital learning spaces. A childcare facility ensures mothers can work without sacrificing family responsibilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have both contributed to its milestones, with Singh emphasizing the center’s role in promoting women’s economic and social empowerment during its 2025 inauguration.

The center employs hundreds of women while training thousands more, fostering both skill development and economic independence.

Building a market-driven brand
Training alone has limited impact without market access, a gap addressed by the Raj Uphaar brand. Managed entirely by women from tribal and rural communities, the brand operates across three product lines: Raj Amrut (snacks/savouries), Raj Saurabh (fragrances and candles), and Raj Kruti (handicrafts and textiles). Local materials form the foundation of most products, and the brand has cultivated a customer base of over 2 lakh individuals.

The model provides multiple engagement options: job work, apprenticeships, direct employment, and market linkages previously inaccessible to participants.

President Droupadi Murmu received handmade Raj Uphaar products during her visit to the Dharampur ashram, reflecting the brand’s growing recognition.

Expanding through village networks
To scale impact, the initiative replicates its model. During the 60th birthday celebration of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji in Mumbai, 10 new satellite Centres of Excellence for Women were announced across rural India—from Maharashtra to Bihar, Tamil Nadu to West Bengal. Concurrently, 60 SRLC Centres will be established, integrating healthcare, career guidance, and livelihood programs into village hubs.

The strategy links Dharampur’s training and branding with grassroots networks, ensuring rural women access opportunities they might otherwise never encounter.

Beyond financial gains
Raj Uphaar envisions empowering rural women through confidence, skills, and a stronger voice, aligning with the Mission’s philosophy of combined inner growth and social service since 1994.

This initiative exemplifies how providing resources—a skill, a respectful workplace, childcare, and market access—can transform lives. Some women now contribute to global trade, turning village talent into worldwide recognition.