“I told him my friends would ask who I had met in Delhi and he smiled and took a photograph with me.”
These were the words said by Sitaben, a member of Dangi Adivasi Mahila Khedut, after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Actually, from 16 to 27 February, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs organized Aadi Mahotsav: The Mega National Tribal Festival in Delhi. In this festival, tribal business and startup communities from across the country were invited.

In this festival, many tribal communities from Gujarat also participated. Recently, many tribal communities in Gujarat such as Dang, Narmada, and Chhota Udaipur have created their own identity in the startup business world. Today, we are going to talk about them – where you will get a glimpse of the emerging business people and entrepreneurs from Gujarat’s tribal communities.

Through Gujpreneur, we work to give such people an identity and support them so that they not only move forward themselves but also inspire others along the way.

Tribal communities from Gujarat  

Now, in this list, not only Sitaben but also many other names are included – those who not only created their own identity through their hard work but also made thousands of tribal people in Gujarat financially secure. The communities that once faced various struggles have now become a source of inspiration for others in society.

When a tribal community starts a business, it is not limited only to becoming financially independent – it also gives a new identity to their tradition and culture. Whether it is in the food sector or related to art, they are leaving their mark. Along with this, there is also a great contribution from various organizations and the government.

When we read about the success stories of tribal communities, we found that they have received as much help from government schemes as from NGOs and private companies. For example, Sonal Rochani’s Shakti Foundation or the support of companies like Amazon. Let’s now read some of the success stories of Gujarat’s tribal community.

Tribal Community Success Stories from the Ground  

There are not just one but many names in this list – some of them may not be widely known, but through their work, they have achieved new milestones. So, let’s talk about some such inspirational names.

#1. Sitaben – Millet Products Entrepreneur  

Sitaben, who comes from Saputara in the Dang district of Gujarat, is listed first because her journey from an ordinary worker to an entrepreneur is remarkable and inspiring for others. Managing a family of five, Sitaben faced many challenges but never gave up.

She started by making different types of millet biscuits, and soon expanded her business into chakri, papad, and many other Gujarati dishes. Her real recognition came from the Aadi Mahotsav in Delhi, where she met Prime Minister Modi, who also appreciated her work a lot. Today, she is an inspiration for thousands of tribal women in Gujarat.

#2. Paresh Rathwa – Pithora Painter  

The second name on this list is Pareshji from Chhota Udepur, Gujarat, who is known for his ancient Pithora paintings. This is a 12,500-year-old art form, traditionally created on mud walls to please the gods. Pareshji inherited this art from his grandfather.

Gradually, his paintings became famous all over Gujarat. Now, he not only paints on mud walls but also on canvas and handmade paper. He receives orders from India and abroad, and his son Maulik also helps him in this work.

#3. Vajirbhai Kotwalia – Bamboo Products  

The next name is Vajirbhai from Hathakund village in Bharuch district, whose family has been involved in making bamboo products for generations. Vajirbhai says, “When Modi Saheb was CM, he gave us ₹60 lakh through the ‘Gujarat Vans Kala Udhyog’ program, which helped us and our villagers in getting training. It increased our sales tremendously.”

Now, they do business worth lakhs of rupees every year.

Challenges they face  

It’s not that these tribal communities got recognition easily. They face many challenges in their daily lives, such as:

• Weak internet connections
• Lack of access to markets
• Shortage of money
• Limited exposure
• Traditional practices and branding issues

But with time, they learned to tackle these boundaries and move forward. Even today, many government schemes and NGOs are helping them. For example, Gujarat government’s Manav Garima Scheme and Agriculture Diversification Project, while among NGOs, names like Jan Kalyan Charitable Trust and Gramin Vikas Trust are included.

When any community is struggling, even a small push can help them a lot – whether it is financial support, recognition, manpower, or the support of their own people.

Conclusion  

These are not just business success stories of tribal communities but also stories of cultural revival – showing how, with limited resources and knowledge, one can go far with only skills and determination.

If you have the passion to achieve something, nothing can stop you from moving forward. This is the message of Gujpreneur – never give up, whether someone supports you or not, whether the situation is in your favor or not. If you believe in yourself, just keep moving ahead.