In a pioneering move for rural India, ‘Kottravai – E-Commerce Store’, the country’s first e-commerce platform dedicated to rural women entrepreneurs, was formally launched at Kalaivani Educational Centre, Govindaperi, near Kadaiyam in Tenkasi district. The platform was inaugurated by Padma Shri Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist of Zoho Corporation and a celebrated advocate of rural innovation.
Conceived as a digital bridge between rural creators and global consumers, Kottravai enables women, especially homemakers and beedi workers from interior regions, to market and sell their handmade products online — from the comfort of their homes. The initiative is a direct response to the health risks and limited income associated with traditional beedi-rolling work that many women in this region currently depend on.
Speaking at the launch event, Ms. Karunya Gunavathy, Co-founder and CEO of Kotravai, welcomed the gathering and elaborated on the vision behind the initiative — to provide sustainable livelihood options for rural women and to ensure that their creations find global recognition.
Dr. Shridhar Vembu, in his keynote address, emphasized the need for scalable, tech-driven solutions that uplift rural economies. “Kottravai is not just a platform; it’s a movement to put rural craftsmanship on the global map,” he said.
The event also featured an address by Mr. Ananthan Ayyasamy, Co-Founder of Kottravai and Founder of Voice of Tenkasi Foundation, who spoke about the upcoming growth plans and verticals of the Kottravai platform. “This is just the beginning. With the launch of Kotravai, we envision rural women of Tenkasi and beyond becoming global businesswomen,” he stated.
Participants from across districts, including homemakers, college students, and women artisans, attended the event. The platform’s management team conducted an in-depth walkthrough on how Kotravai functions, what kind of products can be sold, and the broader entrepreneurial opportunities it creates for women from Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions.
Kottravai aims to become a marketplace for a wide range of handmade and home-produced goods — including artisanal gifts, organic food items, utility products, and beauty essentials.
In a significant step toward inclusive commerce, the initiative will also support women interested in small-scale electronics assembly and plans to launch a dedicated job platform for educated rural women.
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