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ECL and Shreel Foundation Join Hands to Empower 30 Women Through Skill Development

Newsmantra — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:07:56 +0000

RANCHI. Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) Rajmahal Area has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shreel Foundation, Deoghar, to launch a skill development project for women from affected villages. Under the initiative, 30 women will receive training in leaf-plate and bowl manufacturing, along with sales and marketing skills aimed at promoting self-employment and sustainable livelihoods.

The MoU was signed by Dinesh Sharma, General Manager (Operations), ECL Rajmahal Area, and Rakesh Verma, Secretary, Shreel Foundation. The programme will provide participants with practical training in production and marketing, helping them develop income-generating skills and create sustainable livelihood opportunities through small-scale entrepreneurial activities.

MS Dhoni-Backed Garuda Aerospace Partners with Goa Information Technology Development Corporation to Empower 100 Women Through Drone Skilling Annually

Newsmantra — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:10:11 +0000

Chennai/Goa, 18 August 2026: IPO-bound drone technology company Garuda Aerospace, along with the Goa Information Technology Development Corporation (GITDC) and the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), is supporting the government’s broader ‘Drone Didi’ initiative. The initiative aims to train 100 women every financial year in Goa and create 300 certified women drone pilots over three years, subject to statewide approval by DITE&C. This marks a significant step towards leveraging drone technology to strengthen rural livelihoods, promote women-led entrepreneurship and build a digitally empowered workforce in the state.

The first cohort of 12 women, recognised as the ‘Special 12’ by the Goa IT Minister, received intensive training in drone technology, flight simulation, assembly, maintenance, safety and practical flying. As part of the initiative, the trained ‘Drone Didis’ also demonstrated their newly acquired flying skills before the Minister, showcasing their ability to independently operate drones.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said, “The Drone Didi initiative is a powerful example of how technology can become an enabler of economic independence and social transformation. At Garuda Aerospace, we believe that the true potential of drones lies not only in the technology itself, but in the opportunities it can create for communities. By equipping women with certified drone skills, we are enabling them to become technology users, service providers and entrepreneurs in their own right. The training of Goa’s first 12 Drone Didis is an important milestone in building a more inclusive and technology-driven drone ecosystem.”

Garuda Aerospace’s skilling efforts build on its position as one of India’s largest Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs), with MS Dhoni among those who have received drone pilot training from the company. The company has also established multiple associations with government institutions and regional training organisations, including Rural Electrification Corporation (REIL) and multiple Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes (FMTTIs), to strengthen drone skilling and training capabilities across regions.

The initiative further reflects Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to democratising access to drone technology and empowering women through skilling. The company aims to expand such programmes to diverse communities, including free drone pilot training for widows and wives of armed forces personnel, enabling them to pursue technology-led livelihood opportunities. In 2024, Garuda Aerospace has trained over 500 rural women in drone technology and delivered 446 drones to women-led Self-Help Groups across 20 states, supporting economic empowerment and technology-led livelihoods through initiatives such as the ‘Namo Drone Didi Yojana’. The company has also created over 3,500 jobs, including roles for pilots and technicians, contributing to the development of a skilled workforce for India’s growing drone ecosystem.

Ambuja Foundation and Aramco Extend Women Empowerment Initiative

Newsmantra — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:03:44 +0000

Mumbai, 18th August 2026: Building on progress made in 2025 through the women’s empowerment program in Dadri, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ambuja Foundation and Aramco have extended the “Empowering Women” initiative for an additional year in 2026. This year, the project will focus on expanding opportunities for women in the region through training in stitching, tailoring, and block printing.

In 2025, a Common Facility Center (CFC) was established as part of the project to provide training and support in tailoring and garment production. The initiative trained 200 women, including 100 who received advanced training. Additionally, 45 women have started entrepreneurial activities and are earning an income through tailoring at the production unit. The program has supported improved livelihood opportunities, increased financial independence, and contributed to the economic well-being of women and their families.

In 2026, the project will focus on strengthening sewing, garment-making, and block printing for 245 women from nearby villages who have expressed interest in participating. The partnership aims to address skill gaps, improve the quality of tailoring, block printing, and production work and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for women through the CFC model.

In 2026, basic training will be provided to 200 newly mobilized women. Advanced training will be provided to 100 beneficiaries from the 2026 batch and 100 graduates from the 2025 batch, to further develop their technical skills and enhance their employment and income-generation opportunities. Additionally, 45 beneficiaries will be trained in block printing to specifically support skill diversification and expand livelihood avenues.

The partnership will further strengthen the CFC as a production and training center by equipping it with industrial sewing machines, block design facilities, solar energy solutions, and safety measures aligned with standard industrial practices. These enhancements will support efficient production processes and provide a more sustainable platform for rural women to develop their skills and livelihood opportunities. The Foundation will also support the trained women in establishing an Off-Farm Producer Organization (OFPO), including registration under the Companies Act to strengthen governance systems. This will enable members to participate as shareholders and contribute to the sustainable management and growth of the organization.

The project is aligned with the “One District, One Product” (ODOP) scheme and aims to promote local products by strengthening market linkages for the OFPO. The initiative will support the development of B2B and B2C opportunities, improve packaging and branding, promote products through relevant platforms, and facilitate participation in e-commerce marketplaces.

Industry experts will provide guidance on product development and quality improvement. The project will also focus on enhancing market readiness through better packaging, branding, promotions, and participation in exhibitions and fairs. Additionally, the initiative will strengthen the governance and institutional capacity of the producer group managing the CFC, support the establishment of a raw material bank, and enhance CFC operations to create a sustainable livelihood model for women.

Abdulrahman Althukair, Managing Director of Aramco India, said: “As part of Aramco’s Global Citizenship Program, we aim to support rural communities and empower future generations through sustainable development, education, and energy access. Building on the success of Phase I of the project, which led to the establishment of a Common Facility Center with Ambuja Foundation in Jarcha village in 2025, Aramco is pleased to continue expanding the scope of the ‘Empowering Women’ initiative in 2026. The next phase will focus on enhancing women’s skills in tailoring and block printing through the establishment of another CFC with solar energy, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and expanding the impact of the project to a larger group of beneficiaries.”

Emphasizing the importance of partnerships and community engagement in addressing rural issues, Chandrakant Kumbhani, CEO of Ambuja Foundation, said: “By collaborating with like-minded partners, we can achieve scale and amplify the impact exponentially. As we see the growing demand for a skilled workforce across sectors, bridging the skill gap has become more critical than ever. In collaboration with Aramco, we are committed to empowering rural women with sector-specific skills and creating a lasting, positive impact on their lives.”

Abha 2.0 Bootcamp Launched: Igniting Grassroots Women Entrepreneurship with National Thought Leaders”

Newsmantra — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:10:22 +0000

NOIDA. The Bootcamp of GAIL Abha 2.0 was recently inaugurated at the GAIL Training Institute (GTI), Noida, bringing together an inspiring panel of leaders and changemakers dedicated to women’s empowerment and entrepreneurial growth. The event featured eminent speakers including media personality Ms. Shazia Ilmi; Dr. Poonam Sinha, Director General, NIESBUD; Dr. Ashutosh Pastor, VP Incubation Cell, IIT Delhi; Shri Tarun Chaturvedi, COO, FITT; and Ms. Tripti Somani, Founder, Global Womenovator.

In his welcome remarks, Shri Praveer Aggarwal, ED (Training), GTI, celebrated the success of Abha 1.0 and expressed optimism for Abha 2.0’s expanded impact. Highlighting Abha’s transformational role, Shri Chaturvedi called it “a path to earn respect and build identity,” while Dr. Sinha urged participants to tap into government support schemes and recognize their innate entrepreneurial spirit. Ms. Ilmi shared a heartfelt account of her small-town roots and praised GAIL and IIT Delhi for championing inclusive development, describing Abha as “a torchbearer of a movement led by women.” Dr. Pastor, a long-standing mentor to the initiative, hailed Abha 2.0 as a symbol of hope and grassroots innovation, underscoring GAIL’s commitment to building sustainable, women-led enterprises across the country.