Her Skill, Her Future: Empowering 100,000 Widows in India
The Loomba Foundation | Women’s Collective Forum | CII Foundation
Widows have long been one of the most overlooked and marginalized groups in society. Globally, 285 million widows face challenges such as poverty, social exclusion, and economic vulnerability, with 46 million of them residing in India. To address this silent crisis, the Loomba Foundation, in collaboration with the Women’s Collective Forum and the CII Foundation, is proud to announce a transformative initiative, Her Skill, Her Future: Empowering 100,000 Widows in India.
A Transformative Mission
This groundbreaking initiative aims to equip 100,000 widows with commercially relevant skills, resources, and opportunities to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—No Poverty, Gender Equality, and Decent Work—the program envisions economic independence and social equity for widows.
At the heart of the mission lies the belief that skilling is empowerment. This initiative will provide widows with pathways to self-reliance, enabling them to educate their children and lead dignified lives.
Strategic Partnerships for Impact
The Loomba Foundation, under the leadership of Lord Rajinder Paul Loomba CBE, has been at the forefront of advocating for widows’ rights globally. Joining this mission is Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, Vice President of the Loomba Foundation, a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment and a pivotal force in bringing together this partnership.
The initiative is further strengthened by:
- The CII Foundation, leveraging its vast network to align skilling efforts with industry demands, creating job pipelines, and fostering entrepreneurial ventures.
- The Women’s Collective Forum (WCF), bridging grassroots action with strategic implementation, ensuring programs are tailored to the unique challenges faced by widows.
The CII Foundation was represented by Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, former Chairman of CII, whose presence underscored the organization’s commitment to empowering widows through strategic skilling initiatives. The event also saw participation from diverse sections of society, including leaders from policy, UN agencies, politics, governance, and development consulting, highlighting its broad-based appeal and significance.
Empowering Through Action
The initiative focuses on:
- Training widows in commercially relevant skills for employment in high-demand sectors.
- Building entrepreneurial ventures through mentorship and market access.
- Collaborating with industries, organizations like Rotary, and UN Women to amplify efforts.
- Launching a social media campaign to normalize conversations around menopause and PCOS as complementary efforts.