In a small village in Uttarakhand, a group of women earn a steady livelihood crafting handmade rakhis and eco-products, thanks to a young engineer-turned-social-entrepreneur who left her job in Bengaluru to build something impactful. Stories like these are no longer outliers. Across India, an increasing number of young professionals are choosing to step away from traditional urban career paths to engage meaningfully with rural India.
Over the past few decades, a quiet shift has taken place. A new generation of changemakers is reframing rural India not as a space of deprivation but as a frontier for innovation, impact, and inclusive growth.
Understanding rural transformation
Rural transformation refers to the process of improving the economic, social, and environmental conditions of rural communities, making them more sustainable, equitable, and vibrant. It includes better access to education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, infrastructure, and governance.
Despite being home to nearly 65% of India’s population, rural regions often struggle with chronic underinvestment, migration, climate vulnerability, and a lack of service delivery. Transforming these spaces is not just a moral imperative — it is vital for India’s long-term growth plan.
Young changemakers: Uniquely positioned to drive change in rural India
Young professionals bring a powerful blend of fresh perspective, tech-enabled solutions, and empathy to rural development. Their educational background and industry experience help them tackle challenges with innovative thinking and practical solutions, from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-backed farming tools to digital healthcare and learning apps.
More importantly, they approach communities as partners rather than beneficiaries. They prioritise deep listening and focus on collaboration and building trust. This unique combination makes them catalysts for inclusive and lasting change.
Rethinking development through hands-on rural experiences
While villages do face challenges in areas like health, education, environment, and more, they also offer a great opportunity for innovations. It offers a ready platform for urban youth to implement fresh ideas to engage communities and drive meaningful, sustainable change at the grassroots.
For example, with our Youth For India Fellowship programme, the youth engage with the rural communities to identify key areas of concern and come up with unique solutions. Over the past 11 years of persistent efforts, several meaningful engagements have positively impacted over 2 Lakh lives in 260+ villages.
This journey not only helps villages grow but also helps the young generation rethink their career in the Development Sector. Some exemplary works are highlighted below among many.
Coming from a steady professional background at Wipro, Nishant Singh quit his job to work directly with rural communities in a small town in Maharashtra. He worked on the access to sustainable energy projects in marginalised rural communities and went on to start his social enterprise called Jawhar Farm, to revive traditional superfoods, especially ragi (finger millet), by bridging the rural production with urban demand.
Similarly, Pratibha Krishnaiah voluntarily left her high-paying job in Bangalore to find a life of much greater meaning for her. Through a rural Fellowship programme, she arrived in rural India and learned about working alongside the challenges and strengths of village communities. This Fellowship developed into what is now known as Himalayan Blooms, a social enterprise creating jobs for women in Uttarakhand by creating handcrafted products. What was intended as a year-long experience became a commitment to rural social enterprise for life.
The road ahead: Towards Viksit Bharat 2047
As India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, we stand at a crucial turning point. With a young and dynamic population, the challenge is no longer just about generating employment, it is about creating purpose-driven opportunities that contribute to nation-building.
True development cannot be limited to cities; rural transformation must be at the heart of this journey. When young minds step beyond urban borders to engage with rural India, they help build a development model rooted in inclusion, empathy, and local relevance.
(Jagannath Sahoo is the President & COO of SBI Foundation. Views expressed are his own.)
