Rekha Doley’s life is a tapestry woven with threads of determination, skill, and a vision for community upliftment. A mother, a master weaver, and a dedicated farmer, Rekha’s journey from an underpaid artisan to a leader of 200 weavers is an inspiring tale of resilience and transformation.
Rekha’s passion for weaving took root while she was working with an organisation in Bokakhat, Assam. However, the joy of creating intricate designs was overshadowed by the organisation’s severe underpayment of its artisans. Frustrated after 18 months of being undervalued, she found an ally in Impulse NGO, which was then collaborating with her employer. When Hasina Kharbhih, the founder of Impulse, learned about the exploitative conditions faced by the weavers, she invited Rekha and others to work directly with her organisation.
This pivotal moment in 2013 marked the beginning of Rekha’s journey with Impulse NGO. Over the next nine years, she honed her craft and grew into her current role as a master weaver, overseeing a team of 200 artisans. In her role, Rekha is responsible for every aspect of the weaving enterprise—from processing yarn supplied by Impulse to making critical design decisions.
Today, Rekha takes pride in the satisfaction and happiness of her team. “The women of the village get an opportunity to work for themselves. It gives me pleasure knowing that someone else is also earning because of me,” she shares with a warm smile.
As a mother of two daughters, Rekha is deeply invested in the empowerment of women in her community. The joy of seeing other women benefit from the opportunities she has created fuels her passion for her work. She dreams of expanding her business to provide employment to even more women in her village.
Rekha attributes a significant part of her success to the unwavering support of her family, especially her husband. “My biggest support is my husband. When I get tired of juggling responsibilities—my children, family, and business—he motivates me to keep going. Even in household work, he helps in every way he can,” she says. Balancing her personal and professional life remains a challenge, especially as she manages her joint family, farm, and business. Yet, Rekha finds strength in running her enterprise and creating an empowering space for women.
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The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges for Rekha and her team. During the initial lockdown, procuring quality yarn and maintaining income levels became difficult. However, the weavers adapted by working from home, finding a way to sustain their craft amidst the crisis. Now, Rekha looks forward to integrating social media into her business to reach a broader audience and explore new markets.
Encouraging others to embrace entrepreneurship, Rekha says, “Everyone should try doing something on their own. It doesn’t have to be huge; you can start small, even from home. Solve small problems, start weaving, making pickles, or anything. Independence is empowering.”
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