Mumbai, January 22, 2025: Habitat for Humanity India, in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, has launched a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women in rural Maharashtra and Odisha. The project, titled ‘Empowering Women and Improving Life through Livelihood Interventions’, has provided 1,104 women with essential skills, financial support, and access to markets, thereby promoting economic independence through livelihood and entrepreneurship development.
Building on the success of its first phase, which supported 969 women across 85 self-help groups (SHGs) in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, the second phase focused on strengthening 96 SHGs in the districts of Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) and Beed in Maharashtra, and Dhenkanal and Puri in Odisha.
The second phase aimed to empower women by providing capacity-building programs, technical training, and seed funding to help SHGs start and scale micro-businesses. These businesses spanned sectors such as home-based crafts, agriculture, and agro-allied activities. Additionally, the project offered mentorship, financial literacy, bookkeeping training, and sessions on menstrual hygiene management to ensure continuous support for women entrepreneurs.
Vidya More, a Habitat homeowner who set up a dal mill in collaboration with her SHG, shared her experience: “Zhanshi Chi Rani Ekal Mahila Bachat Gat is a Self-Help Group (SHG) established by single women, for single women. I knew nothing about running an enterprise, let alone handling a dal mill business. The unity of fellow women from our group, in-depth training and handholding support we received from Habitat for Humanity India helped me regain my confidence. It has given us not only a means of livelihood but also the strength to live with dignity. Nothing is impossible when women come together.”
Anand Kumar Bolimera, National Director of Habitat for Humanity India, remarked, “At Habitat for Humanity India, we believe that empowering women is fundamental to building resilient and thriving communities. By equipping women with the skills, resources, and confidence that enables them to lead businesses, this partnership with Standard Chartered Bank is not only transforming lives but also creating a ripple effect of economic independence in rural Maharashtra and Odisha. Some of these women are Habitat homeowners. They are now entrepreneurs and change-makers, paving the way for stronger, more self-reliant communities. Their success stories are a testament to the power of collective action and the potential that lies within each of them.”
Ms. Karuna Bhatia, Head of Sustainability at Standard Chartered Bank, added, “At Standard Chartered Bank, we believe in fostering inclusive growth by empowering women to lead economically independent lives. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity India reflects this commitment as we work together to equip women, many of whom are Habitat homeowners, with the skills and resources needed to build sustainable livelihoods. Through this initiative, we are not only supporting women in scaling their businesses but also creating a lasting impact on their families and communities. We are proud to stand with these remarkable women as they unlock new opportunities, drive local economies, and shape a brighter future for themselves and future generations.”
The micro-businesses initiated by SHGs include home-based enterprises such as applique art, agarbatti (incense sticks) making, bamboo and brass crafts, as well as agriculture-based activities such as aquaculture, floriculture, mushroom and vegetable cultivation, and agro-allied ventures like dairy farming, goat rearing, and poultry.
In Maharashtra, 36 SHGs comprising 456 women have been supported to establish grassroots-level micro-enterprises. In Odisha, 60 SHGs comprising 648 women have been helped to start their own micro-enterprises.
The project aims to equip women with leadership and technical skills, engage them in income-generation activities, and empower them to achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance necessary to build a better life for themselves and their families.
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