Administrator
09 March 2026
Yes. It is the Orient Craft Garment Manufacturing unit led by women who have gained praiseworthy success by empowering scores of women in Jharkhand.
No joke, this. This incredible scene is visible in Khatanga, Chhatarpur, Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, where a garment manufacturing unit of a private company, Orient Craft Fashion Industries Ltd, has empowered more than 4,000 women.
The company works with a vision to expand this number to over 12,000 in the coming years.
The largest unit of Orient Craft in Ranchi has achieved remarkable gender inclusion. Inquiry revealed that nearly 50% of mid-level management positions were held by women. Key leadership roles — including Plant Head, Head of Compliance and HR- are led by women.
“Today, we have over 4,000 women whose lives we have been able to change, and as a company, we have decided that more than 90% of our workforcewill always be women, for which we have a training centre in place. Right now, we are operating at only 25% of our capacity. At full capacity, we will employ more than 12,000 women,” Sudhir Dhingra, Founder and CMD of the company, is quoted as having said.
To build trust within women's communities, the company’s team visited villages and encouraged women to explore employment opportunities in garment manufacturing. Training centres were established across rural Jharkhand, and upon completion of training, women were placed in jobs at the Ranchi facility.
Orient Craft works with prestigious global brands such as AEO, NEXT, Polo, J.Crew, Rails, The Great, and Zimmerman. The company also receives brand support for women empowerment initiatives and is in discussions with NEXT to launch projects focused on tribal women.
The company’s in-house initiative, UDAAN – GIVE HER WINGS, extends beyond employment to focus on women’s health, education, respect, financial literacy and self-defence. The global sustainability teams at Ann Inc., Next, and AEO have recognised this initiative.
“Women who were previously working in garment factories in other states are now returning to work closer to home,” adds Nisha Tomar, VP, who has been working with the company for 15 years and is now leading the Ranchi Plant.
1. Orient Craft, Khatanga, Chhatarpur, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834012
2. Archana Mann, Senior GM – Sustainability (seated at the centre), with a workforce comprising women.
