Reliance Foundation to build 100-acre township offering lifelong care and homes to 5,000 people

Reliance Foundation Founder and Chairperson Nita Ambani on Sunday announced plans to establish a 100-acre township in Karjat, near Mumbai, which is expected to provide lifelong homes to more than 5,000 people, including orphaned children, senior citizens and persons with developmental disabilities.

Named Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray, the proposed project is planned as a permanent, not-for-profit institution. Ambani performed the ground-breaking ceremony and bhumi pujan at the site today.

The project is expected to support a wider community of around 15,000 people, including caregivers, medical professionals, support staff and their families.

Reliance Foundation says the initiative will combine residential facilities with healthcare, education, rehabilitation and opportunities for employment.

Eight residential villages planned across 100 acres

The township is envisioned as eight residential villages, each named after a sacred Indian river. Residents will be housed in small, family-style homes with dedicated caregivers and house parents, rather than in a conventional institutional setting.

The plans include a hospital, temple, playgrounds, gardens, farms and workshops. Each resident is expected to have an individual care and development plan covering medical needs, education, skills, employment and personal well-being.

A designated key worker will coordinate their care, with plans reviewed at least once every six months.

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The proposed healthcare facilities will include specialised services for developmental conditions, epilepsy, special-needs dentistry and palliative care.

Rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy are also part of the plan.

The project will also include an inclusive education system, sports and recreational facilities, and vocational training centres. A bakery, cafe and craft studios are proposed to help residents develop skills and take up work.

An animal companionship farm is also planned, with expertise from Vantara.

Project to extend services to nearby communities

The foundation says the township will not function as a closed residential facility. Its hospital, temple, sports facilities and cafes are expected to serve people from neighbouring villages as well.

Around 1,000 people from the region are expected to access therapy, education and employment opportunities. Mobile medical clinics, respite homes and outreach programmes are also planned to support families in nearby districts.

A national training academy is proposed to build skills among people working in disability care. The township will also have a hospice wing and a garden of remembrance for end-of-life care.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nita Ambani said the project was intended to give children without homes, people with disabilities and senior citizens a place where they could receive long-term care and live with dignity.

She said the initiative would also address concerns among parents who worry about who will look after their children with disabilities when they are no longer around.

The proposed township is aimed at people who need lifelong assistance, including those with cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy and complex medical conditions.

(Disclosure: Firstpost is a part of the Network18 Group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.)