New Delhi, March 07, 2026: On the eve of International Women’s Day, M3M Foundation announced a renewed commitment to advancing women’s social and economic empowerment through skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities. The announcement was made during the launch of the “Weaving Change – Weaving of Heritage” campaign in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The initiative aims to connect around 40,000 women across India with skill training, entrepreneurship support and sustainable livelihood opportunities rooted in traditional arts and crafts. The programme seeks to link rural women’s traditional skills with modern markets, design innovation and digital platforms, aligning with the vision of taking local craftsmanship from “Rural to Global.”
The launch event was held in Bairwan Panchayat of Arajiline Block in Varanasi district in collaboration with Mahila Swarojgar Samiti, where more than 500 women from nearby villages participated. The programme also marked the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson and Trustee of M3M Foundation, and Rekha Chauhan, Founder of Mahila Swarojgar Samiti, in the presence of MLC Hansraj Vishwakarma and Varanasi District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya.
Dr. Payal Kanodia said that women’s empowerment remains central to the country’s social and economic progress. She emphasised that initiatives focused on education, skills and entrepreneurship can play a key role in enabling long-term transformation in rural communities.
Through its ‘Kaushal Sambal’ programme and other community initiatives, the foundation has been working to provide skill development training, entrepreneurship guidance and livelihood opportunities to women across several states. These initiatives aim to help women become financially independent while strengthening local economies.
Dr. Payal Kanodia said, “Weaving Change – Weaving of Heritage is not just a project but a movement aimed at connecting the skills of rural women with entrepreneurship while taking India’s heritage from ‘Rural to Global’ on the world stage.”
She also highlighted that M3M Foundation’s work in Varanasi extends beyond livelihood initiatives. As part of heritage development efforts at Eknath Bhavan at Durga Ghat, the foundation has supported the reconstruction of the sanctum and assembly hall of the Vitthal Temple, developed an Annakshetra and built a dharamshala for pilgrims. A community hall has also been created to support social and cultural activities.
Rekha Chauhan, Founder of Mahila Swarojgar Samiti, said the partnership will help women from Varanasi and nearby rural areas convert their traditional skills into sustainable enterprises and become self-reliant.
The foundation stated that the campaign aligns with national initiatives such as “Vocal for Local” and “Virasat se Vikas,” encouraging the promotion of local heritage while creating new livelihood opportunities.
Reaffirming its commitment on the occasion of International Women’s Day, M3M Foundation said it will continue to focus on strengthening women’s participation in economic and social development by supporting skills, leadership and entrepreneurship.
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