Reliance Foundation gives a new lease of life to womenfolk in Gujarat

The lockdown imposed in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic has entered its fourth phase in India, and with the extension the challenges do not seem to be easing out for the marginalised communities anytime soon. Out of jobs and with very little or no money, these underprivileged people are desperate to get back to their work and normal life.

Talking about a particular case in Jasdan, Gujarat, several self-help group (SHG) members have lost their usual source of income during the lockdown. However, despite the difficulties, the members didn’t lose their spirit and were keen to keep working in order to sustain their families and contribute to their community.

Reliance Foundation – the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries came to the forefront to help these people revive their livelihoods. Focusing on the women folk, the organisation identified those women who had their own sewing machines and helped in aligning them with various government initiatives.

Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission programme – a poverty alleviation project implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, five women from the self-help groups in three villages of Jasdan were given orders to stitch face masks. Setting a positive example, these women have stitched over 1500 masks till now. These masks are being sold to the public and the income generated is helping the women sustain their families during the lockdown.

This is just one of the many initiatives that Reliance Foundation has undertaken to help people from the marginalised communities to sail through the current challenging times. From donating ration and dry food kits, distributing free fuel for ambulances, setting up dedicated COVID-19 hospital, feeding stray animals, helping stranded migrants reach their homes to supporting self-help groups under various initiatives, Reliance Foundation is doing all this and more to ease the impact of the lockdown.