Savita Pal, a determined resident of Gudal village in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, is a true testament to strength and resilience. As a dedicated homemaker, she has long dreamed of achieving financial independence and actively contributing to her family's well-being. Today, that dream is on the brink of realisation, as she joins a remarkable group of 1,500 local women set to receive top-notch training in apparel stitching at the cutting-edge garment training and production center being established by the Adani Foundation. This initiative not only empowers individuals like Savita but also promises to uplift the entire community by fostering skill development and creating new opportunities for economic growth.

A similar sentiment is echoed by Meera Ojha, a resident of Budha Dongar village of Shivpuri, who had always wanted to be a part of the garment industry. “My dream is soon going to be fulfilled, thanks to the upcoming centre being set up by the Foundation”, says an elated Meera.

Aligning with its commitment of fostering economic independence and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for women, the Adani Foundation, in collaboration with the district administration of Shivpuri, is coming up with a garment training and production centre in Shivpuri. This centre will train more than 1,500 local women in garment stitching and production over a period of three years.

The upcoming centre will be equipped with over 600 advanced industrial garment production machines and will provide specialised training to the women as part of the Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission. The centre will train women in designing and producing garments such as shirts, t-shirts, trousers, jackets, kurtis, skirts, and school uniforms. It will also integrate advanced stitching techniques with practical exposure to meet global standards. Moreover, the centre will also facilitate market linkages so that women fetch fair prices for their creations.

The foundation stone of the centre was laid on 9 Jan 2025, by Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Development of North-Eastern Region, Government of India, in the esteemed presence of Shri Pradhuman Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Minister of Energy, Madhya Pradesh, and the senior management of the Adani Foundation among other distinguished guests.

Highlighting the transformative potential of the project at the event, Shri Scindia said, “This is the era of empowerment. We must showcase your (women’s) talents on the world map. I express my heartfelt gratitude to Shri Gautam Adani ji and the Adani Foundation for accepting my request and swiftly initiating the project. Jackets and other garments made by my talented sisters are soon going to enter national and international markets, thanks to this upcoming world-class centre”.

On the occasion, Dr Abhishek Lakhtakia, CEO of the Adani Foundation, reiterated the Adani Foundation’s commitment of empowering women towards making them self-reliant and economically independent by equipping them with income generation skills. He said, “We are building a garment training and production centre, equipped with advanced machines. The training will be facilitated through a highly professional institute. The women will also be able to fetch premium and fair prices for the garments they stitch. So far, 250 women have already completed their training. During their training itself, they have received work orders worth up to INR 15 lakh, which they are working to complete”.

The centre is more than a training hub; it symbolises hope and progress for women seeking economic independence and recognition for their talents. It stands as a beacon of the Adani Foundation’s dedication to enhancing the overall well-being of marginalised communities and reinforces belief in the transformative power of community-based approaches.

The Foundation's efforts reflect its broader commitment of driving inclusive, sustainable, and transformative growth of communities at the grassroots. By equipping women with income-generation skills and facilitating market linkages, the Foundation hopes to empower the women of Shivpuri, and beyond, to thrive, prosper and shine.