Vedanta Aluminium’s ‘Project Sakhi’ empowers over 4,600 women in rural Odisha

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 7, 2025

Empowering women is not just about uplifting individuals — it is about transforming entire communities. In India, where women’s participation in the economy remains one of the strongest levers of inclusive growth, socio-economic barriers often stand in their way. In the remote district of Kalahandi, Odisha, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, is breaking these barriers through its flagship women empowerment initiative — Project Sakhi.

Since its inception in 2015, Project Sakhi has ignited a silent revolution. Over 4,600 women across 444 self-help groups (SHGs) have mobilised more than ₹5 crore in financial resources, enabling them to start and grow grassroots enterprises. Women who once faced poverty and financial exclusion are now entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and community leaders. Project Sakhi has become a movement that inspires women to reimagine their identities — not just as contributors to household income, but as CEOs of their own lives.

At its core, Project Sakhi is driven by a simple but powerful idea: equip women with the skills, confidence, and resources to earn independently and lead with dignity. The programme integrates financial literacy, access to credit, vocational training, and collective leadership development. It encourages women to explore both farm-based and non-farm-based enterprises — from mushroom cultivation, goat rearing, and tailoring to grocery stores, food processing units, and small service ventures such as printing facilities.

By combining skill development with financial empowerment, the initiative ensures that women not only start businesses but also sustain and scale them. Last year alone, SHGs in the region mobilised nearly ₹3.84 crore from banks and financial institutions, benefiting over a thousand women. These micro-enterprises are generating stable incomes and creating ripple effects across the local economy — spawning new jobs, markets, and opportunities. Over the years, Project Sakhi has helped more than 1,880 women establish over 1,300 small ventures, transforming livelihoods in ways once unimaginable.

“The success of this project doesn’t lie in numbers alone; it’s a testament to the transformative power of a focused, grassroots approach,” said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO, Vedanta Alumina Business. “We are witnessing the dawn of a new era of self-reliance, where women are the primary architects of their own lives,” he added.

A striking example comes from Balabhadrapur village, where the Maa Shivani SHG embodies the project’s spirit. After receiving hands-on training in poultry management, the women established a thriving poultry unit that generated over ₹1.27 lakh in revenue. The initiative not only enhanced their household incomes but also elevated their social standing. Women who once had little voice in family or community matters are now regarded as breadwinners and role models, inspiring others to follow their lead.

Social security is another vital pillar of Project Sakhi. By linking over 3,000 women to key government schemes — including life and accident insurance, child savings plans, and labour welfare benefits — the initiative has built crucial safety nets for families. This integration of financial independence with social protection ensures that progress remains sustainable and inclusive.

This festive season, as the nation celebrates the triumph of good over evil, Project Sakhi celebrates a quieter yet equally powerful victory — the triumph of opportunity over constraint, and independence over dependence. The women of Kalahandi, once defined by their struggles, are now shaping new narratives of resilience, confidence, and leadership — proving that empowered women truly empower communities.