Project Sakhi Empowers Over 4,600 Women in Rural Odisha to Become Entrepreneurs

Over 4,600 women become entrepreneurs through financial inclusion, skill training, and social empowerment

Bhubaneswar : Empowering women is not just an act of inclusion—it is an act of transformation. In one of Odisha’s most underdeveloped districts, Kalahandi, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has been quietly leading this transformation through its flagship initiative, Project Sakhi. Since its inception in 2015, the project has become a beacon of hope for thousands of rural women, enabling them to move from poverty and dependence toward entrepreneurship and leadership.

Project Sakhi has so far mobilised over 4,600 women across 444 self-help groups (SHGs), who together have accessed more than ₹5 crore in financial support to launch and sustain small-scale enterprises. These women—many of whom had no prior exposure to banking or business—are now running ventures that not only supplement household income but also strengthen local economies.

From micro-enterprises in goat rearing, mushroom cultivation, and food processing to non-farm businesses such as grocery shops, tailoring, and printing services, these women have diversified the rural economy. By integrating skill-building, access to credit, and financial literacy, Project Sakhi ensures that women are not just beneficiaries but business leaders capable of sustaining growth.

The foundation of Project Sakhi lies in the belief that true empowerment requires both opportunity and agency. The programme nurtures women’s entrepreneurial spirit through training, mentoring, and collective decision-making. It also builds their confidence to take on community roles—transforming them into local change-makers.

In the past year alone, SHGs under the initiative mobilised ₹3.84 crore in credit from banks and other financial institutions, benefitting more than 1,000 women. Over 1,880 women have successfully launched more than 1,300 enterprises across Kalahandi, generating steady incomes and creating ripple effects in employment and community development.

“The success of Project Sakhi is not measured merely in numbers,” said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO of Vedanta Alumina Business. “It reflects a deeper transformation—a shift towards self-reliance where women are shaping their destinies, uplifting families, and driving local progress.”

One of the most inspiring examples comes from Balabhadrapur village, where the Maa Shivani SHG stands as a testament to the project’s success. After receiving hands-on training in poultry management, the group established a poultry unit that generated over ₹1.27 lakh in revenue. This venture not only enhanced their income but also elevated their social standing. Once confined to household chores, these women are now respected entrepreneurs and decision-makers in their families and communities.

Beyond economic empowerment, Project Sakhi emphasizes social protection. Over 3,000 women have been linked to government welfare schemes, including life and accident insurance, child savings programmes, and labour welfare benefits. This approach integrates livelihood generation with financial security, ensuring resilience against economic and social vulnerabilities.

“Financial independence must go hand in hand with safety and stability,” said Bhattacharya. “By connecting women to social welfare systems, we are ensuring that their progress is not temporary—it is transformative and lasting.”

Project Sakhi has emerged as a model for holistic rural development. It aligns with national priorities such as the Government of India’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Digital India initiatives by promoting gender equity, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion. The success of this programme in Kalahandi underscores the power of corporate-led community partnerships in achieving inclusive growth.

As Odisha prepares for the festive season, the women of Kalahandi are celebrating their own triumph—a victory of opportunity over constraint, and resilience over adversity. Project Sakhi is not just empowering women; it is reshaping rural Odisha’s socio-economic fabric.

What began as a corporate social initiative has evolved into a powerful grassroots movement—one that is turning homemakers into entrepreneurs, beneficiaries into leaders, and marginalized communities into engines of change. Through Project Sakhi, Vedanta Aluminium has shown that when women rise, entire communities prosper.