Building on progress made in 2025 through the women's empowerment program in Dadri, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ambuja Foundation and Aramco have extended the "Empowering Women" initiative for an additional year in 2026. This year, the project will focus on expanding opportunities for women in the region through training in stitching, tailoring, and block printing.
In 2025, a Common Facility Center (CFC) was established as part of the project to provide training and support in tailoring and garment production. The initiative trained 200 women, including 100 who received advanced training. Additionally, 45 women have started entrepreneurial activities and are earning an income through tailoring at the production unit. The program has supported improved livelihood opportunities, increased financial independence, and contributed to the economic well-being of women and their families.
In 2026, the project will focus on strengthening sewing, garment-making, and block printing for 245 women from nearby villages who have expressed interest in participating. The partnership aims to address skill gaps, improve the quality of tailoring, block printing, and production work and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for women through the CFC model.
In 2026, basic training will be provided to 200 newly mobilized women. Advanced training will be provided to 100 beneficiaries from the 2026 batch and 100 graduates from the 2025 batch, to further develop their technical skills and enhance their employment and income-generation opportunities. Additionally, 45 beneficiaries will be trained in block printing to specifically support skill diversification and expand livelihood avenues.
The partnership will further strengthen the CFC as a production and training center by equipping it with industrial sewing machines, block design facilities, solar energy solutions, and safety measures aligned with standard industrial practices. These enhancements will support efficient production processes and provide a more sustainable platform for rural women to develop their skills and livelihood opportunities. The Foundation will also support the trained women in establishing an Off-Farm Producer Organization (OFPO), including registration under the Companies Act to strengthen governance systems. This will enable members to participate as shareholders and contribute to the sustainable management and growth of the organization.
The project is aligned with the "One District, One Product" (ODOP) scheme and aims to promote local products by strengthening market linkages for the OFPO. The initiative will support the development of B2B and B2C opportunities, improve packaging and branding, promote products through relevant platforms, and facilitate participation in e-commerce marketplaces.
Industry experts will provide guidance on product development and quality improvement. The project will also focus on enhancing market readiness through better packaging, branding, promotions, and participation in exhibitions and fairs. Additionally, the initiative will strengthen the governance and institutional capacity of the producer group managing the CFC, support the establishment of a raw material bank, and enhance CFC operations to create a sustainable livelihood model for women.
Abdulrahman Althukair, Managing Director of Aramco India, said: "As part of Aramco's Global Citizenship Program, we aim to support rural communities and empower future generations through sustainable development, education, and energy access. Building on the success of Phase I of the project, which led to the establishment of a Common Facility Center with Ambuja Foundation in Jarcha village in 2025, Aramco is pleased to continue expanding the scope of the 'Empowering Women' initiative in 2026. The next phase will focus on enhancing women's skills in tailoring and block printing through the establishment of another CFC with solar energy, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and expanding the impact of the project to a larger group of beneficiaries."
Emphasizing the importance of partnerships and community engagement in addressing rural issues, Chandrakant Kumbhani, CEO of Ambuja Foundation, said: "By collaborating with like-minded partners, we can achieve scale and amplify the impact exponentially. As we see the growing demand for a skilled workforce across sectors, bridging the skill gap has become more critical than ever. In collaboration with Aramco, we are committed to empowering rural women with sector-specific skills and creating a lasting, positive impact on their lives."
