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Project Name: Living Looms of India

Project Location:  Maheshwar | State : Madhya Pradesh | Outreach: 1000

Project Location:  Kota | State : Rajasthan | Outreach: 1000

Project Location:  Nuapatna | State : Odisha | Outreach: 1000

Project Location:  Bishnupur | State : West Bengal | Outreach: 1000

Project Location:  Bhagalpur | State : Bihar | Outreach: 500

Project Location:  Sualkuchi | State : Assam | Outreach: 500

Project Location:  Venkatgiri | State : Andhra Pradesh | Outreach: 500

Project Location:  Kullu | State : Himachal  Pradesh | Outreach: 500

Primary stakeholders :  Weavers | Supported by: HSBC

Major Products | Services

Handloom sarees |  dupattas | home furnishing

“Living Looms of India” is an initiative by ACCESS supported by HSBC to revitalize India’s handloom sector. Launched in 2018–19 with clusters in Maheshwar and Kota, it has expanded to eight clusters by 2024, including Kullu, Bhagalpur, Sualkuchi, and Venkatagiri. Aiming to engage 500 weavers per cluster, the project focuses on sustainable practices, climate-smart production, and ecosystem strengthening. By 2024–25, over 3,100 weavers were mobilized, with training in natural dyeing, design innovation, and yarn blending. The initiative facilitated access to government schemes, benefiting 1,382 weavers, and promoted market linkages. With a five-year impact on 4,000 weavers, the program targets positioning them in high-value markets through improved design, technology, and market strategies by 2027.

Project Name: Kawach | Project Location:  Jaipur | State : Rajasthan

Primary stakeholders : Artisans / Women | Supported by: BAT | Outreach: 700

Major Products | Services

Apparels |  Accessories | Home furnishing

Kawach is a Jaipur-based initiative supported by the British Asian Trust that empowers women in Rajasthan’s traditional craft sectors while combating child labour through community-led development. The project has organized 650 women into 65 SHGs, trained 135 leaders to reach over 1,350 women, and connected 3,000+ households to government welfare schemes. With 800 women now part of a producer company, Kawach has enhanced incomes—over 645 women reported income increases, 35 launched businesses, and more than 200 now earn ₹5,000+ monthly through dignified work. Simultaneously, the initiative has ensured zero child labour in over 200 households, 100% school enrolment for 900+ children, and re-enrolment of 45 dropouts. Through skill-building in embroidery, stitching, and lacquer work, official artisan recognition, and strong market linkages, Kawach is fostering financial independence, social security, and a safer, opportunity-rich future for women and their children.

Project Name: Desert Pastorale | Project Location:  Barmer | State : Rajasthan

Primary stakeholders : Artisans / Women | Supported by: JSW | Outreach: 500

Major Products | Services

Applique crafted Apparels |  Accessories | Home furnishing

Desert Pastorale is a women-owned producer company in Barmer, Rajasthan, initiated by ACCESS Development Services with CSR support from JSW Energy (Barmer) Limited. The initiative focuses on revitalizing traditional handicrafts, especially appliqué work, to create sustainable non-farm livelihoods for rural women artisans. The project empowers 500 women through skill development, enterprise formation, and market integration. Women artisans receive advanced technical training, exposure visits, and governance support to strengthen leadership and entrepreneurship. In 2024–25, Desert Pastorale products were showcased at major exhibitions and linked with 30 B2B buyers, including global exporters, retailers, and online platforms. The brand also achieved international market entry with handcrafted garments reaching buyers in the USA and UK. Desert Pastorale represents a powerful model of rural women’s economic empowerment through collective enterprise and craft-based innovation.

Project Name: New LEAF

Project Location:  Noida | State : Uttar Pradesh | Outreach: 250

Project Location:  Khurja | State : Uttar Pradesh | Outreach: 125

Project Location:  Bagru | State : Rajasthan | Outreach: 125

Primary stakeholders :  Artisans / Women | Supported by: HCL

Major Products | Services

Bakery/ Savories/ Sweets –  Noida | Ceramic Pottery – Khurja | Handblock printed textiles – Bagru

ACCESS has launched an initiative called New LEAF under the HCLFoundation Uday program to enhance the livelihoods of 450 small and marginal artisans and women entrepreneurs across three clusters: Noida, Khurja (Uttar Pradesh), and Bagru (Rajasthan). The program focuses on improving product quality and marketability through targeted training and handholding support. It aims to build the entrepreneurial, marketing, digital, and financial literacy capacities of these artisans, enabling them to participate effectively in mainstream markets. New LEAF also seeks to facilitate access to relevant government schemes and programs, while supporting artisans in listing their products on e-commerce platforms. By promoting value chain integration, the initiative strives to increase profitability and ensure long-term sustainability of artisan enterprises.

Project Name: Anokha Dhaaga | Project Location:  3 clusters | State : Maharastra

Primary stakeholders : Artisans / Women | Supported by: TATA POWER | Outreach: 200

Major Products | Services

Apparels | Accessories | Home furnishing

Anokha Dhaaga is a women-centric livelihood and micro-enterprise initiative by Access supported by ACCESS, with the goal of improving the socio-economic status of poor rural women across Tata Power’s project locations, particularly in Maharashtra’s Raigad and Pune districts. Launched in 2015, the initiative supports 300 women artisans from marginalized communities through four centers Mulshi, Bhira, Bhivpuri, and Vadeshwar—with a concentrated focus on garment-making enterprises in Lonavala. The program empowers women by developing their business skills, enhancing entrepreneurship, and providing training in design, stitching, and product sampling. It has established partnerships with organizations such as Okhai and various Tata institutions, while also expanding into B2B and B2C markets to increase brand visibility. With growing market linkages and ongoing efforts to build a strong identity, Anokha Dhaaga aspires to offer women a sustainable, aspirational income by scaling its reach and becoming a recognized national brand.

Project Name: Shakti WEE | Project Location:  Sambalpur | State : Odisha

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: JSW | Outreach: 2000

Major Products | Services

Micro-enterprises

The Shakti Project in Odisha is a comprehensive women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship initiative by ACCESS supported by JSW Foundation. The project aims to build self-managed women’s cooperatives and promote micro-enterprises by delivering financial services, market linkages, and livelihood support to over 800 women. Registered as a Producer Organization (PO), the cooperative achieved a profit of ₹1.83 lakh in FY 2024–25. Women entrepreneurs were engaged in diverse activities such as dairy development, mushroom and vegetable farming, broiler poultry, phenyl and paper plate production, cotton wick making, fish retailing, and the iconic Sambalpuri saree weaving. Interventions included enterprise training, financial literacy campaigns, cooperative business development, and government scheme linkages worth approximately ₹40 lakh. Regular weekly haats and district events enhanced market access, while strategic support—like equipment, exposure visits, and veterinary care—boosted production and incomes. With 100% loan repayment and rising earnings across activities, the JSW Shakti Project is transforming rural women into confident entrepreneurs, fostering economic resilience and self-reliance in the region.

Project Name: Gruhalaxmi WEE | Project Location:  Angul | State : Odisha

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: Tata Steel | Outreach: 2000

Major Products | Services

Micro-enterprises

The Gruhalaxmi Project, led by ACCESS Development Services and supported by Tata Steel Foundation in Meramandali, Odisha, aims to uplift the socio-economic status of 2,000 women across 26 villages. Since 2019, the project has focused on enabling women to establish sustainable microenterprises, improve household incomes, access financial services, and adopt better health and sanitation practices. Central to the initiative is the Gruhalaxmi Cooperative, through which women receive training in cooperative management, financial planning, and business development. In 2024–25, the project emphasizes strengthening the cooperative’s governance, supporting both individual and group enterprises, and implementing a structured credit management system. Personal success stories, such as women launching grocery shops and poultry farms, highlight the project’s tangible impact in promoting financial independence and empowerment.

Project Name: Holy City Rickshaws | Project Location:  Varanasi | State : Uttar Pradesh

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: Intreped | Outreach: 50

Major Products | Services

Tourism

Holy City Rickshaw is a transformative initiative by ACCESS Development Services that empowers 100 women from low-income households in Varanasi to become trained e-rickshaw drivers, offering them dignified and sustainable livelihoods. Designed to tackle both gender inequality and urban pollution, the project enables women from slums and marginalized communities to operate eco-friendly electric rickshaws, while equipping them with technical, financial, and soft skills. The initiative envisions a women-led public limited company where the drivers are also equity holders, ensuring long-term economic empowerment. Despite challenges like regulatory delays and market competition, the project has gained traction through partnerships with hotels and travel agencies, positioning itself as a socially responsible tourism service. Stories of women like Nirmala and Renu, who have overcome personal and financial hardships to reclaim confidence and independence, highlight the initiative’s deep social impact. Holy City Rickshaw stands as a powerful example of how inclusive mobility solutions can drive environmental sustainability and women’s empowerment in urban India.

Project Name: Lake City Rickshaws | Project Location:  Udaipur | State : Rajasthan

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: Wild Frontier | Outreach: 50

Major Products | Services

Tourism

Lake City Rickshaws is a pioneering initiative by ACCESS Development Services, in collaboration with DER Touristik Foundation and Wild Frontiers, aimed at providing long-term, aspirational livelihoods to 50 women from low-income families in Udaipur. These women are not just drivers but proud owners and operators of this unique social enterprise that runs specially designed electric rickshaws. The initiative follows a triple-bottom-line approach—fostering women’s social empowerment, creating dignified economic opportunities, and promoting eco-friendly urban transport to help reduce vehicular pollution in the heritage city. Through thoughtfully curated tours of Udaipur’s key attractions, Lake City Rickshaws offers tourists an immersive experience that blends scenic beauty with authentic local insight—all while being driven by skilled women determined to transform their lives and their city.

Project Name: Pink City Rickshaw Company | Project Location:  Jaipur | State : Rajasthan

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: HSBC | Outreach: 100

Major Products | Services

Tourism

Pink City Rickshaw Company (PCRC) is an award-winning social enterprise launched in Jaipur in 2016 by ACCESS Development Services with the vision of creating dignified, sustainable livelihoods for women from low-income communities. By training over 200 women primarily aged 18 to 45 as skilled drivers and co-owners of custom-designed electric rickshaws, PCRC has transformed gender norms and opened new economic pathways in a male-dominated sector. These women now offer high-quality, curated heritage tours to tourists, in collaboration with hotels, travel agencies, and the broader tourism ecosystem. The initiative has significantly increased the women’s income (up to ₹25,000–30,000/month for many), enhanced their confidence, mobility, and decision-making power, and promoted socially responsible, eco-friendly urban transport. Entirely self-sustaining, PCRC reported a turnover of ₹61 lakh in FY 2024–25 with ₹16 lakh in gross profits. Its success has inspired replications in Varanasi (Holy City Rickshaws), Udaipur (Lake City Rickshaws), and soon in Agra (Taj City Rickshaws), with a vision to scale to 20 cities across India—championing gender-inclusive mobility and ethical tourism.

Project Name: Didi Janrashoi (Community Kitchen) | Project Location:  Dadri | State : Uttar Pradesh

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: SNU/ Vama Sundari Investments | Outreach: 150

Major Products | Services

Meal | Savories | Sweets

Didi Jan Rasoi is a women-led community kitchen initiative implemented by ACCESS Development Services and supported by Vama Sundari Investments. The project aims to establish three self-sustaining community kitchens in Dadri Block, Uttar Pradesh, to enhance livelihoods and promote food-based entrepreneurship among women. A total of 150 Self-Help Group (SHG) women are engaged in the initiative, receiving training in culinary skills, financial and digital literacy, and entrepreneurship development. The first kitchen—Didi Smart Rasoi—was inaugurated on 30th May 2025 at the BDO/Tehsil office in Dadri. The project emphasizes government-owned locations for sustainability and long-term impact. Future plans include market linkages, mobile food cart extensions, brand development, and scaling up the model across additional locations.

Project Name: Women’s Entrepreneurship Program | Project Location:  Bathinda | State : Punjab

Primary stakeholders : Women Entrepreneurs | Supported by: HMF | Outreach: 2000

Major Products | Services

Micro-enterprises

The Women Empowerment Program in Raman, Bathinda, Punjab, is a flagship initiative by ACCESS Development Services, supported by HMEL, that aims to uplift 3,000 women from landless and SC/ST communities through enterprise-led development. The project focuses on mobilizing women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), building their capacities through training in SHG management, enterprise motivation, and digital literacy. So far, 90 SHGs have been formed, engaging 900 women, with several groups like Laxmi SHG and Waheguru SHG emerging as success stories. Laxmi SHG now operates a thriving flour mill, while Waheguru SHG runs a bakery enterprise, both earning sustainable incomes and selling certified, hygienic products locally. With FSSAI certifications, QR-coded enterprises, and linkages to bulk vendors, these women are transforming into confident entrepreneurs. The program combines skill development, institutional support, and digital enablement to create dignified livelihoods and long-term financial independence for rural women.

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