In honour of International Women’s Day, Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Dalmia Bharat Ltd. (DBL) has introduced a sustainable livelihood programme aimed at empowering rural women through entrepreneurship, in the trade of tailoring. This transformative initiative, aligned with the United Nations’ global theme, “Invest in Women—Accelerate Growth,” underscores DBF’s commitment to promoting gender equality and economic empowerment in the communities surrounding their operational regions. Following a comprehensive evaluation, DBF has identified 440 rural women entrepreneurs from 16 locations across India for the programme. The objective is to provide these women with effective training in garment crafting skills and financial assistance, enabling them to establish and sustain their own micro-enterprises independently. Each woman will receive support in the form of a high-quality tailoring machine, with costs shared equally between the beneficiary and DBF, ensuring financial constraints do not hinder the progress of these aspiring entrepreneurs. This initiative will provide a substantial boost in annual income for each woman, with potential earnings of up to Rs. 40,000.
At special events held at Dalmia Cement manufacturing units across Assam in Lanka, Jagi Road and Umrangsoon March 8, over 65 women beneficiaries were presented with sewing machines post successful completion of training by key company officials.
Commenting on the programme, Ashok Kumar Gupta, CEO, Dalmia Bharat Foundation said, “Our mission at Dalmia Bharat is deeply rooted in our commitment to catalyzing positive change within rural communities across India. With this initiative we aim to equip rural women with the tools and skills they need to thrive in the tailoring trade, offering them more than just a source of income – we are providing a pathway to dignity and self-reliance. When women are empowered, they become agents of change within their families and communities, driving progress and prosperity. By investing in women, we are investing in the future of our nation, building a more inclusive and equitable society for generations to come.”
The tailoring training program is conducted within a duration of 2 – 3 months at local skill centers or centres supported by DBF. The number of beneficiaries is determined based on area demand and existing tailoring units for sustainable income. Monitoring and evaluation of this project is under DBF’s larger initiative – Gram Parivartan Programme. The Gram Parivartan Programme is aimed at promoting economic development in village households and bring about qualitative improvements in the standard of living for marginalised families through various sustainable initiatives under farming, off-farming and skill development.