Bhubaneswar, Oct 09: Across rural Odisha, women are increasingly transforming traditional skills and local produce into meaningful livelihood opportunities. Reinforcing its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and advancing rural development in Odisha, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, conducted a series of capacity-building training programmes on ragi snacks making across multiple Gram Panchayats in Lanjigada, as part of its self-help group initiative, Project Sakhi. The initiative has so far benefited more than 100 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across four Gram Panchayats, equipping them with the requisite skills to establish and expand micro-enterprises, thereby contributing to job creation in Lanjigarh and strengthening rural livelihoods.
The programmes were conducted in Paikaranipinda, Lanjigarh and Sibapadar Gram Panchayats, with the latest phase benefiting over 71 women through hands-on training in ragi-based product development, value addition and entrepreneurship development. By combining practical skillbuilding with business-oriented learning, the initiative is helping participants explore new income-generation opportunities through locally available resources, supporting Odisha rural development and fostering self-reliance among women entrepreneurs.
During the two-day training programme, participants learned to prepare a range of nutritious and marketable ragi-based products including ragi crackers, ragi pheni, murukku, cookies and other value-added snacks using locally available resources. The training also introduced participants to the key tenets of modern enterprises, such as ensuring quality standards, attractive packaging, innovative branding and market linkage opportunities, providing a comprehensive understanding of the aspects involved in bringing such products to the market.
Sukanta Patra from Jay Shree Ram SHG, Paikranipinda shared, “After receiving the Ragi Snacks training by Sakhi, we learned to prepare nutritious products like ragi ladoo, pitha, and mixture. With the support of Vedanta, our products are now being promoted and marketed, helping us earn a regular livelihood. This initiative has not only increased our income but also boosted our confidence as women entrepreneurs. We are grateful for this opportunity to improve our lives and support our families.”
Speaking on the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Alumina Business, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “When women are equipped with the right skills and support, they are better placed to build sustainable sources of income for themselves and their families. Through Project Sakhi, we are helping women develop entrepreneurial capabilities and create value from locally available resources such as ragi. By encouraging value addition and enterprise development at the grassroots, we aim to strengthen rural livelihoods and contribute to inclusive growth in the region.”
The participants expressed appreciation for the programme, highlighting how the training enhanced their practical knowledge and equipped them to explore supplementary income opportunities generation through small-scale food processing businesses.
Launched in 2015, Project Sakhi has emerged as one of Vedanta Lanjigarh’s flagship women empowerment initiatives. Implemented through the Shaktimayee Foundation, the programme has mobilized over 500 SHGs, empowered more than 5,300 women, and facilitated the establishment of over 2000 enterprises in Kalahandi and surrounding areas through farm and non-farm livelihood interventions. Through initiatives such as Project Sakhi, Vedanta Aluminium continues to support women-led entrepreneurship and strengthen sustainable livelihood development opportunities in the communities surrounding its operations.
