In an era, when a majority of businesses across the globe are reeling under an economic meltdown, comes a heartwarming success story from Anandwan, a dream envisaged by Baba Amte, nearly 70 years ago. The smart village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra could be best described as providing opportunities of livelihood to the least acknowledged strata of society. Today, its members can boast of starting their own fashion line of clothing and accessories. The product sale, which launched on social media in mid-June, has snagged a revenue of Rs 10 lakh from both national and international markets.

In March, when the pandemic put the brakes on retail marketing in India, the close-knit tribal community of 2,500, with more than 80 per cent of them being differently-abled, leprosy-afflicted and social refugees, saw opportunity in distress. Taking the digital approach, they launched a web portal to market their eco-friendly and sustainable products, garments, face masks and accessories, to secure their future and become independent.