A felicitation ceremony was held on 13th October 2021 at the Pilani Atmanirbhar Resource Centre (PARC) to recognize the women of Pilani who have been trained and are working at the Swayamshakti Sewing Center at PARC. The event was organised to recognize those women who have excelled at their tasks in the Swayamshakti Center. The event was graced by Dr. Sudhir Kumar Barai, Director, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus as the chief guest. Dr. Chandrashekhar and Dr. V. K. Dube, various members of the local government’s administration, and journalists from different media houses were also present on the occasion.

The Swayamshakti Sewing Center came into operation in January 2021 through a collaboration between PARC and Nirmaan’s student-run BITS Pilani chapter, with CSR support from Singer and SBI. Women from underserved communities are being upskilled and equipped with the skillsets to make and sell items such as face masks, bags and other daily use products.

Dr. Barai felicitated women for their excellent work. Cash prizes were awarded to those who excelled at their work. The women utilized the forum to provide useful feedback and suggestions. The student volunteers of the project expressed their commitment to improving the quality of products produced, exploring newer markets and addressing other concerns expressed by the women. 

On this occasion, PARC provided a grant of Rs 1.35 lakhs to the three children of a family in the Pilani community which lost both their parents to Covid-19. The fund will go towards education expenses of the children for the current year. PARC has planned to continue to fund their education and other expenses from its own resources or through donations received from other donors. PARC is also helping to secure scholarship and other assistance from the government schemes and other agencies to provide much needed support and relief to the affected family. The cheque for the above amount was handed over by Dr Barai, to the eldest child of the family.