Bhubaneswar: VAML Lanjigada has strengthened its dedication to empowering women and fostering rural development by inaugurating a tailoring training center in Bhataguda village, located in Chatarapur, Kalahandi. This launch is part of their prominent women’s empowerment initiative, Project Sakhi.
The new center will facilitate three batches of 30 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), who will embark on a three-month vocational training program designed to improve their skills and generate sustainable livelihood options for community advancement.
This initiative aims to enhance the abilities of rural women, helping them achieve self-reliance and financial independence. Through hands-on tailoring training, participants are acquiring essential skills for income generation, which they can balance with their home responsibilities. This not only boosts their economic status but also empowers them to take active roles in their community’s growth.
Since the program began, 226 women from over 12 villages have successfully completed their tailoring training, including participants from Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar Colony, Rengopali Bandhaguda Kothaduar Colony (RBK), Pediguda, Gopinathpur, Batelima, and Nangalbeda.
The program has equipped these women with market-ready skills, paving the way for self-employment and additional income. The newly established tailoring center will allow even more women to access these benefits.
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO of VAML Lanjigada, commented on the initiative, stating, “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.”
Indranee Sahu, a participant from Bhataguda village, shared her perspective, saying, “The tailoring training program 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.”
Project Sakhi was launched in 2015 and adopts a transformative approach to women’s empowerment by promoting economic independence, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, financial literacy, and agriculture-based livelihood support.
Currently, the initiative benefits over 5,400 women through more than 500 SHGs and supports upwards of 3,000 livelihood enterprises across both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.
