Sambhali Trust and Mahindra Launch Empowerment Centres for Women & Girls in Jaisalmer
Sambhali Trust has joined hands with Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd to launch a new project to empower women in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Through this partnership, four Empowerment Centres will be established near Mahindra’s Jaisalmer properties, offering safe and inclusive spaces for displaced and marginalised women and adolescent girls to gain education, vocational skills, and access to essential support services.
Beginning in September 2025, the seven-month initiative will directly support 120 women and girls, providing them with training in sewing, embroidery, and handicrafts, alongside literacy and numeracy education. Each participant will graduate with a sewing machine, enabling them to begin earning an income immediately after completing the programme. Indirectly, this project is expected to benefit around 720 family members and over 2,000 community members in the surrounding areas.
The need for such an initiative in Jaisalmer is urgent. The female literacy rate in the district stands at only 38.9%, compared with India’s national average of 65.5% (Census 2011). Many women in this region face deep-rooted gender and social inequalities, with limited access to education, healthcare, or economic opportunities. According to The Economic Times (2025), approximately 6,000 asylum seekers live in Jaisalmer, and nearly half are women and girls who face multiple vulnerabilities due to their displacement and poverty.
Through this collaboration, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. is supporting Sambhali Trust’s approach to empowerment, which combines skill development with access to legal, psychological, and healthcare services. The centres will also offer workshops on health awareness, financial literacy, and self-defence, ensuring participants not only learn a trade but also gain confidence and knowledge to lead safer, more independent lives.
The partnership is a shared commitment to sustainable development, aligning with the United Nations’ goals on gender equality, quality education, and decent work. By the end of the programme, Sambhali Trust and Mahindra Holidays aim to see at least 50% of participants increase their household income and achieve greater participation in community life.
As the initiative begins, it represents an investment in dignity, opportunity, and the transformative power of education for women and girls who have long been left behind.