“Political freedom was achieved in 1947. Economic freedom must rise from every village today.”

— Rajesh Shukla, Chief Strategist, Inspire India Now

 

 What is Economic Swaraj?

Coined by Mahatma Gandhi, “Swaraj” meant more than political independence—it was about self-rule through self-reliance, especially in economic terms. In today’s Bharat, economic swaraj means villages that:

• Produce, consume, and sustain locally
   

• Rely on community-owned enterprises
   

• Retain economic dignity and decision-making power
   

Under Inspire India Now, this ideal is no longer theoretical. It is becoming a working economic model, rooted in rural reality and led by grassroots entrepreneurship.

 

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The Philosophy of Rajesh Shukla: Local is Limitless

Rajesh Shukla’s vision redefines development: it’s not about pumping aid into villages—it’s about building ecosystems that thrive without external dependency.

His 3-fold economic Swaraj principle:

1. Skill where they are
    

2. Scale what they know
    

3. Sell where the world pays best
    

Villages are not poor—they're underutilized economies. Inspire India Now taps their hidden value chains and unlocks community wealth creation.

 

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 Inspire India’s Grassroots Enterprise Framework

 1. Cluster-Based Micro Industries

• Rural areas grouped by natural strengths (handicrafts, dairy, jaggery, herbal products)
   

• Set up SHG-led mini-factories with tech support
   

• Branding, packaging, and marketing done through local youth entrepreneur hubs
   

 2. Gram Udyog Kendras (Village Enterprise Hubs)

• Offer common machinery, e-commerce access, and business mentoring
   

• Facilitate bulk production and reduce cost per unit
   

• Supported by skill schools and digital literacy
   

 3. Artisanal and Agro Value Chains

• Products like millet, khadi, bamboo, herbs integrated into national and export markets
   

• Organic and GI-tagged items sold via Inspire India’s Bharat Brand Bazaar
   

• Youth trained as local e-tail agents with tablets
   

 4. Local Financing Loops

• Promote community cooperatives and SHG banks
   

• Enable micro-credit and revolving funds for enterprise capital
   

• Reduce dependence on external loans
   

 

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 Success Stories of Economic Swaraj

 Rekha Bai—Madhya Pradesh

Turned a small Mahua product into a thriving wellness product line. Her SHG earns ₹1.5 lakh/month and employs 23 women.

 Narayan Das—Rajasthan

Revived wool spinning in his desert village. Now his cooperative sells shawls online under “MaruVastra”—shipping to 5 countries.

 Bijoy Mondal—West Bengal

Built a value chain for indigenous rice using Gram Udyog support. His panchayat now runs its own rice mill, doubling farmer profits.

 

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 The Impact at a Glance

• 3,500+ Gram Udyog Kendras across 14 states
   

•  78,000+ rural entrepreneurs supported
   

•  ₹130+ crore in grassroots product sales (2023–24)
   

•  22,000 youth trained as local brand ambassadors and tech enablers
   

•  40% reduction in village-to-city economic leakage
   

 

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 Conclusion: Freedom Must Be Lived, Not Just Remembered

Inspire India Now isn’t just reviving Gandhian thought—it’s re-engineering it for the 21st century. Under Rajesh Shukla’s guidance, Economic Swaraj is

• Rooted in soil, but ready for global scale
   

• Crafted by women, youth, and farmers
   

• Sustained by pride, not dependency
   

When a village spins its own cloth, sells its own grain, and funds its own schools, it is not waiting for development—it is leading it.

That is the Swaraj Bharat deserves. That is the Bharat Inspire India Now is building