Championing female entrepreneurship in India

Chevening Alumna Deepti Ameta has dedicated her career to empowering female entrepreneurs in India. As the Chief Operating Officer of Udyogini, she works with over 50,000 rural women across the country, transforming their lives through economic empowerment.

The name Udyogini translates to ‘woman entrepreneur,’  reflecting its mission to empower women in the agricultural sector, where up to 80% of economically active women in India are employed. Despite this significant contribution, women own only 9% of rural land in India. Udyogini facilitates sustainable changes in business practices, providing skills development, financial literacy and business plan training to young women.

“How can we build strong, peaceful, and resilient societies if half of our population is disempowered?”

At the age of 30, Deepti recognized a concerning trend: for many women in her community, marriage and motherhood were often seen as the pinnacle of achievement. Seeking to broaden her horizons, she applied for a master’s degree in the UK through a Chevening Scholarship.

Her year at the University of Sussex was transformative; she connected with Cheveners from around the globe and was inspired by their determination to combat racial, social, and economic injustices in their home countries.

“Our societies are structurally unequal worldwide. This inequality means not everyone has the same opportunity to realise their full potential.”

Upon returning to India, Deepti felt a renewed inspiration to confront gender inequality. At Udyogini, she approaches women’s economic empowerment through the lens of climate justice. According to UN reports, women make up 80% of those displaced by the climate crisis. Deepti understands that gender and environmental issues are deeply intertwined; solving one requires addressing the other.

In 2017, Deepti became the honorary Joint Secretary of Chevening Alumni India (CAI). The following year, she united India’s Chevening Alumni through CAI’s Gender Equality Campaign, where over 1,000 alumni participated by sharing on social media, conducting workshops, and advocating for equitable workplace conditions.

“Chevening has provided me with friendships, connections, and opportunities I never could have imagined.”

She also appreciates the impact of the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, which has enabled alumni in India to tackle critical issues both locally and globally.

Deepti observes significant changes for women since the onset of her career twenty years ago. Today, women in India enjoy safer public spaces, increased educational opportunities, and improved healthcare. She proudly acknowledges the progress made in enhancing women’s entrepreneurship and political participation, yet she recognizes much work remains to be done.

“I am hopeful we are on the right track as a country. My aspiration is for more women to emerge as leaders. By supporting women, we can empower many more.”