Empowering Rural Economics Through Village Weekly Market: A Case Study of Thallapusapally Village (T.G)

Rural weekly markets in Telangana state provide a platform to access the locally produced commodities. This paper examines the economic empowerment generated by establishing a rural weekly market within the villages. Conventional town-based markets often limit rural participation due to high transportation cost, limited market accessibility, and safety concerns, particularly for women. To overcome these barriers, the village of Thallapusapally, located in Mahabubabad district (T.G), initiated a weekly market within the village to improve local participation, increase profits for small farmers and local vendors, and particularly enhance women's involvement. This research utilizes primary data combining qualitative and quantitative techniques to explore different aspects. Results show that a reduced reliance on the external market, along with increased household saving, was accompanied by stronger financial optimism among rural communities, who also reported better access to stable food supplies. The success of the Thallapusapally village model has led neighboring villages to adopt similar weekly markets, suggesting replicability and scalability. The research highlights the vital role of accessible community-managed market in driving rural economic development empowering women, and fostering sustainable improvements in livelihoods.