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With the support of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), EDII is also
dedicated to fostering new business ventures among underprivileged women near NTPC
project sites, including Noida and Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh, Singrauli and Gadarwara in
Madhya Pradesh, and Sipat in Chhattisgarh under Project Unnati. The women participants
are leaveraging local resources to create sustainable livelihoods.

Kone Elevators and Escalators (Project Ashray), Xiaomi Technology India Pvt. Ltd. (Project
SPARK), TATA Communications Ltd. (project UDAYA) & TATA Power Community
Development Trust, and State Bank of India Foundation (Project Swavlamban) are just
some noted names that are playing a big role towards realizing this mandate. Enterprise
Creation and Growth are the results. The skill training imparted to beneficiaries prepares
them for adopting sustainable livelihood options. It is heartening to mention that from
these projects, over 1930 PwDs, youth and women from disadvantaged communities,
have started their enterprises and have an average monthly income between Rs. 8000 to
Rs. 10,000/-

Dr. Milind Kamble, Founder Chairman, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI)
and EDII Governing Board Member; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII and Dr. Prakash
Solanki, Programme Director with the participants of the 'Ambassador Programme for Women
Entrepreneurs' conducted during September 23-27, 2024, under Project Udaya at EDII Campus.

Similarly, another dire need is to empower the tribal communities who kind of get
isolatedand hence get limited opportunities. Project Athak, under the support of ONGC Ltd
aims toenhance the quality of life and economic stability of the tribal population in the
Dangdistrict of Gujarat. So far, 302 people have been trained in skills involving familiar
choresof agripreneurship, handicraft, medicinal plant, eco-tourism and NTFP(non timber
based forest products). In the same vein, TATA powersupported Project Aarohan addresses
farmers, fisherfolk and artisans in Mundra, thusempowering them with novel livelihood
opportunities.

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