As a prelude to its 30th anniversary, the Adani Foundation has announced a major expansion of its flagship women’s empowerment initiative Swabhimaan, aiming to enable 10 lakh women entrepreneurs across India.
The first phase of the expansion will focus on Maharashtra, where the programme plans to empower one lakh women within the first year by creating opportunities for women-led micro-enterprises and grassroots entrepreneurship.
Launched in partnership with Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM), the Maharashtra government’s nodal agency for women’s economic empowerment and self-help group development, the Swabhimaan programme operates under a public–private partnership model.
The initiative has already supported over 4,500 women from underserved communities in Mumbai through skill training, entrepreneurship development and financial and digital literacy programmes aimed at building sustainable livelihoods.
Across Mumbai, the programme has enabled more than 800 women to become Lakhpati Didis, demonstrating the impact of structured livelihood and enterprise support.
Adani Foundation Chairperson Priti Adani said: “As we expand the programme to empower 10 lakh women across India, beginning with one lakh women in Maharashtra, our focus remains on enabling sustainable livelihoods and nurturing women-led enterprises that create lasting impact.”
Participants in Swabhimaan receive structured training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and livelihood skills, along with mentorship, market linkages and enterprise guidance. Several women beneficiaries have already launched home-based ventures and collective enterprises, improved household incomes while emerging as role models within their communities.
Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said the programme has become an effective model for women’s empowerment and complements state initiatives aimed at strengthening financial inclusion and entrepreneurship among women.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said the growing “She Power” in communities such as Dharavi reflects the transformative potential of initiatives like Swabhimaan in building financial confidence and entrepreneurial spirit among women.
The Adani Foundation, the social welfare arm of the Adani Group, currently reaches over 9.6 million people across more than 7,000 villages in 22 states through programmes focused on education, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, climate action and community development.
Aligned with India’s national development priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the expansion of Swabhimaan is expected to scale up women-led livelihoods and grassroots entrepreneurship across the country.