THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JANUARY 18, 2026
Aditya Birla
Group company Hindalco Industries Limited, through its support to the
Mahashakti Foundation, is driving a visible socio-economic transformation in
Hirakud Municipality of Sambalpur district, Odisha. By enabling women to emerge
as entrepreneurs, artisans and service providers, Hindalco’s flagship women
empowerment and livelihood initiative, “Project Shakti,” is creating pathways
to economic independence while strengthening community resilience.
Speaking on
the initiative, Kailash Pandey, Mining Business Head and Cluster Head of
Hindalco, said, “Anchored in the belief that sustainable livelihoods are the
foundation of genuine empowerment, Project Shakti focuses on strengthening
women-led non-farm enterprises by formalising informal livelihoods. The
initiative combines skill development, statutory compliance, access to
infrastructure and strong market linkages to help women transition from
subsistence activities to viable, income-generating businesses. Launched in
last Dec 25, till date, Project Shakti has directly benefited 55 women across
11 villages under Hirakud Municipality, while strengthening SHG networks
covering 120 SHG families and influencing nearly 1,200 women-led livelihood
activities. Building on this foundation, the project has set an ambitious
future target of reaching 5,000 women beneficiaries through enterprise
development, skill enhancement and institutional convergence,” adds Pandey.
One of the
most notable success stories under Project Shakti is “OM SHANTI DELIGHT –
Catering Services,” a women-run community kitchen located in Hirakud’s New
Market area. What began as a small, informal meal service by Golap Swain and
Shusama Swain catering to daily wage workers has evolved into a fully licensed
catering enterprise engaging 20 self-help group (SHG) women. With structured
mentoring in food safety, hygiene, pricing, portion control and service
professionalism, along with facilitation of FSSAI, GST and Shop &
Establishment registrations, the enterprise received significant support, including
70 per cent funding for kitchen and catering equipment.
Project Shakti
has also played a pivotal role in reviving Saura tribal art in Nimpali village,
transforming a rich cultural heritage into a sustainable source of livelihood.
Interested SHG women were mobilised and provided training along with exposure
visits to Kalahandi, followed by continuous handholding, raw material support
and regular practice sessions at the community hall. Their live demonstrations
at a CSR event in Jharsuguda drew widespread appreciation and generated market
interest. The next phase of the initiative includes a three-month advanced
training programme with professional experts, formation of a dedicated Producer
Group and convergence with government schemes to ensure long-term
sustainability.
Recognising
the initiative’s impact, an official from the District Industries Centre
remarked, “The District Industries Centre (DIC) has appreciated the work of
Project Shakti in empowering women through sustainable enterprises and has
assured full support at every step for scaling and formalisation of these
initiatives.”
As a
responsible corporate citizen driven by a strong commitment to social
development, the Aditya Birla Group in Odisha reaches out to more than five
lakh people, touching over two lakh lives across 128 villages. The Group’s CSR
initiatives are carried out under the aegis of the Aditya Birla Centre for
Community Initiatives and Rural Development, chaired by Rajashree Birla. The
Group’s vision is to actively contribute to the social and economic development
of the communities in which it operates, build a better and more sustainable
way of life for the weaker sections of society, and raise the country’s human
development index. Its CSR vision is closely aligned with the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those aimed at eliminating poverty
and ensuring freedom from hunger.
