Dawoodi Bohra Community and CCTD Empower Women for India’s Care Economy

The centre in Hyderabad will support women from various backgrounds to become certified professional caregivers

HYDERABAD: In a significant stride towards women’s empowerment and addressing India’s growing need for skilled healthcare professionals, the Dawoodi Bohra’s Project Rise and the Centre for Caregiver Training and Development (CCTD) today launched the ‘Promoting Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment & Resilience’ (POWER) centre in Hyderabad. The centre is designed to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for women through comprehensive training in healthcare and caregiving. The inaugural ceremony on June 3, 2025, welcomed the first cohort of 20 trainees to become professional caregivers.

India’s elderly population is rapidly growing, expected to jump from over 140 million today to 350 million by 2050. This demographic shift, coupled with rising age-related illnesses like dementia and cancer, creates an urgent demand for professional caregivers. Families, often women, struggle to balance caregiving responsibilities with their careers and education, making these multi-pronged training programs critical for both social and economic empowerment.

With nearly 30% of seniors living alone or with an aged partner, trusted and trained caregivers are vital for both social support and strengthening India’s evolving care economy.

Empowering Women and Building the Care Economy

The POWER initiative specifically targets women, particularly from rural and peri-urban communities, to become certified caregivers. The program features a comprehensive four-month training schedule, one month of intensive classroom instruction, including hostel accommodation and meals, followed by a three-month paid internship. The training module covers introduction to ageing, rights and responsibilities of the senior and caregiver in a homecare context, infection prevention and control, common diseases, their manifestations and care, performing activities of daily living for seniors, handling emergencies, first aid and end of life care. Upon successful completion, trainees will receive support in securing employment in major Indian cities, such as Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad, thereby directly contributing to the professional homecare workforce.

Expressing gratitude for their support, Ms. Priya Anant, Founder of CCTD, said, “The Dawoodi Bohra community, through Project Rise, has been dedicated to uplifting marginalised families by improving health, nutrition, education access, and environmental protection. Their partnership with us for the care economy exemplifies their commitment to creating meaningful change.”

“We sincerely thank the Dawoodi Bohra community for their invaluable support in launching this initiative,” stated Ayan Chatterjee, CEO of CCTD. “Their legacy of philanthropy and community empowerment aligns with our vision to provide superior care for seniors while offering life-changing opportunities for women and strengthening the vital fabric of the care economy.”

As part of the POWER initiative, local volunteers and healthcare professionals will work together to inspire change. Awareness programmes, counselling sessions for families, and free training opportunities will help integrate the caregiving model across underserved communities.

Ammar Shakir, a volunteer of Project Rise and part of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Secunderabad said, “This program is inspired by the vision of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, whose teachings for the well-being of senior citizens guide our efforts. Through this centre, and with the support of CCTD, we aspire to build a lasting bridge of care, compassion and resilience, ensuring elders receive the respect and support they so richly deserve.”

“I have joined CCTD’s training program to gain skills and support my family. As a young woman from a rural area, job options were limited. This program will give  me confidence, a stable income, and the chance to care for seniors with dignity,” expressed Asmita Madipoju, a CCTD trainee in the first batch.

About Project Rise

Project Rise is the philanthropic arm of the Dawoodi Bohra community, dedicated to supporting vulnerable members of society worldwide through enhanced education, healthcare, nutrition, water and sanitation, as well as environmental protection.

About CCTD

Operating since 2015, Centre for Caregiver Training and Development, CCTD, a non profit, empowers marginalized youth through geriatric caregiver training. With about 1,400 youth trained, CCTD has partnered with CSRs and Government programs across Assam, Jharkhand, Telangana, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. CCTD’s work centres around bringing innovation and social impact by skilling and empowering caregivers, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for them and creating an ecosystem for dignified elderly care.