From Homemakers to Trailblazers: Women of Kalahandi rise with Vedanta’s Project Sakhi

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 18, 2025

Kalahandi, a land of rich heritage and resilience, has long carried the weight of stories defined by poverty and hardship. For decades, survival here often meant unimaginable compromises, particularly for mothers striving to provide for their children. In such a setting, the idea of women stepping beyond household boundaries once seemed an impossible dream.

That dream began to take shape with Vedanta Aluminium’s Project Sakhi. Launched in 2016 as a modest initiative to empower women, it has since blossomed into a movement of transformation. What began with hesitation has grown into confidence, as thousands of women now chart their journeys toward self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and dignity. Through skill development and the nurturing of self-help groups, Project Sakhi has sparked a wave of change across the district.

Today, Project Sakhi stands as a beacon of empowerment in Kalahandi. It has touched the lives of nearly 5,000 women, mobilising them into 471 self-help groups (SHGs). With structured training, leadership development, and enterprise facilitation, the project enables women to dream beyond traditional roles and embrace entrepreneurship.

Across the district, these women are engaged in more than 1,500 income-generating ventures, ranging from goat rearing, mushroom cultivation, and pisciculture to agro-processing. On average, members now earn upwards of Rs 10,000, underscoring the project’s impact in creating sustainable livelihoods and fostering financial independence.

Vedanta Aluminium understands that true empowerment requires both knowledge and opportunity. Regular capacity-building programs provide women with essential skills in financial literacy, business planning, and marketing. These sessions have inspired bold ventures — from the district’s first-ever oil processing unit, set up by the Trinath Thakur SHG in Niali, to a thriving marigold cultivation cluster spread across 20 acres in eight villages, offering new streams of income for women farmers. Each success story stands as proof of what becomes possible when vision meets support.

Project Sakhi also seeks to improve quality of life. In convergence with government initiatives, fuel-efficient chullahs have been distributed across villages, making cooking healthier, faster, and eco-friendly for households. Such measures address immediate needs while paving the way for sustainable living practices.

The true power of Project Sakhi lies not only in impressive numbers but in the stories it shapes. Women who once relied solely on their spouses for financial decisions are now co-breadwinners, participating actively in household and community planning. SHG members, once hesitant, are now leaders who voice opinions confidently, influencing decisions that shape their villages. What were once communities caught in cycles of poverty are now centres of entrepreneurship, resilience, and hope.

Project Sakhi is a shining testament to Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. By unlocking women’s potential, the company is not only fuelling local economies but also catalysing generational change.

As India marches toward an equitable and empowered future, the women of Kalahandi — armed with skills, knowledge, and tenacity — are leading the charge. And with Project Sakhi by their side, their journey from struggle to strength is rewriting the destiny of an entire region.