International Women’s Day: Dalmia Bharat Foundation Initiates Tailoring Entrepreneurship Programme for Rural Women

New Delhi, March 9, 2024: On the occasion 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 initiative, aligned with the United Nations' global theme, "Invest in Women—Accelerate Growth," aims 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. According to DBF officials, the objective is to provide these women with effective training in garment stitching 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 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.

Speaking on the programme, Mr. 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 officials said that all the beneficiaries under this initiative have undergone basic tailoring training, lasting 2-3 months, either at the local skill center or centers supported by DBF. The number of beneficiaries is determined by area demand and existing tailoring units to ensure sustainable income. DBF will ensure regular follow ups on the income flow with the beneficiaries using their Monitoring and Evaluation framework. This initiative is part of DBF’s flagship program, Gram Parivartan, which aims to provide economically sustainable, ecologically responsible, and socially equitable livelihoods to achieve an additional annual income of Rs. 1,00,000 through individual or group interventions, operating independently or converged with government programs.

Dalmia Bharat Foundation majorly works on projects around building Sustainable Livelihoods and Rural Development programme.