Women Empowerment / VAML Launches Tailoring Training Centre in Kalahandi Under Project Sakhi

Bhawanipatna, Nov 7: Strengthening its efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment in rural Odisha, the Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited (VAML), Lanjigada has launched a new tailoring training centre at Bhataguda village in Chatarapur area of Kalahandi district under its flagship women empowerment programme, Project Sakhi, officials said on Saturday.  

The initiative aims to equip women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with vocational skills that can translate into sustainable livelihood opportunities and greater financial independence.

With the launch of the centre, three batches comprising 30 women from SHGs have commenced a three-month vocational training programme designed to enhance their skills and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for their community’s progress and development.

The initiative seeks to strengthen the capabilities of rural women, enabling them to become more self-reliant and financially independent. Through practical tailoring training, participants are learning fundamental income-generating skills that can be pursued alongside household responsibilities, helping improve their economic well-being while enhancing their ability to lead development efforts within their communities.

Since the inception of the programme, 226 SHG women from more than 12 villages have successfully completed tailoring training across Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar Colony, Rengopali Bandhaguda Kothaduar Colony (RBK), Pediguda, Gopinathpur, Batelima and Nangalbeda villages. The programme has equipped participants with marketable skills, opening avenues for self-employment and supplementary income generation. The new dedicated tailoring skills centre will now enable several additional women to benefit from this initiative.

Speaking on the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, VAML Lanjigada, said, “Women are catalysts of social and economic transformation, and empowering them with livelihood skills creates lasting impact across entire communities. Through Project Sakhi, we are enabling women to become financially independent, confident, and entrepreneurial. This tailoring training initiative is another step towards fostering inclusive growth and Odisha’s rural development, while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.”

Sharing her experience, Indranee Sahu, a participant from Bhataguda village, said, “The tailoring training programme has given me an opportunity to learn a valuable skill and earn an independent income of my own. It has boosted my confidence and inspired me to become self-reliant. I am grateful to VAML for supporting women empowerment and helping us build a better future for our families.”
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Launched in 2015, Project Sakhi adopts a transformative approach to women’s empowerment by promoting economic independence, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, financial literacy and agriculture-based livelihood support. Today, the initiative engages more than 5,400 women across over 500 SHGs, supporting over 3,000 livelihood enterprises across farm and non-farm sectors. As part of its broader commitment to community well-being, VAML continues to create sustainable opportunities for inclusive growth across its operational regions.