Hindalco's "Project Shakti" Empowers Women Entrepreneurs in Odisha

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 22 January 2026

• The initiative that is being implemented by Hindalco Industries (Aditya Birla Group) is Project Shakti
• This initiative is supported by the Mahashakti Foundation
• It mainly centers on the female residents of the Hirakud Municipality in the Sambalpur district

Hindalco Industries, a concern of the Aditya Birla Group, has joined forces with the Mahashakti Foundation to execute “Project Shakti” at Hirakud Municipality in Sambalpur, Odisha.

Such flagship projects have been launched to help women become entrepreneurs, artisans, or providers by professionalizing unorganized livelihood sectors.

According to Kailash Pandey, the Mining Business Head and Cluster Head of Hindalco, the purpose of the project is skill development, provision of infrastructure, assistance with statutory compliance, and linkages with the market, helping the trainees move from subsistence livelihoods to sustainable business livelihoods.

Since its inception in December 2023, the project has made the following progress such as direct Impact, Networking Outreach, and impacted around 1,200 women-managed activities and future Goals.

It includes concrete achievements such as the formal establishment of "Om Shanti Delight – Catering Services," which shifted from a mere food service program to a registered business that hires 20 women.

The initiative supported 70 percent of the cost of equipment and also supported the facilitation of FSSAI, GST, and shop registration. Further, the project aims to commodity the Saura tribal art in Nimpali village, either through training, material supply, or exposure, with plans to engage the artists in further professional training and then establish a producer group.

The District Industries Centre (DIC) has recognized the efforts of this project in formalization initiatives and has agreed to assist in expanding it in the future. Today, the Aditya Birla Group in Odisha claims that its social programs benefit more than 5 lakh people in 128 villages.