7 October 2026: Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and Apparel
Training & Design Centre (ATDC), met the leadership of the IAS Officers’ Wives Association (IASOWA)
today to advance the organisations’ collaboration in women’s skill development and livelihood
support. The meeting brought renewed attention to the R K Puram training initiative and the scope for
extending the partnership to other states.
Dr. Sakthivel met Smt. Hema Somanathan, President, IASOWA; Smt. Shveta Gupta Kansal, Secretary;
Smt. Archana Kumar, Treasurer; and Smt. Ragini Singh, Joint Secretary, in the presence of Prof. (Dr.)
Roopak Vasishtha, Director General & CEO, ATDC.
Under the Chairman’s leadership, ATDC reaffirmed its commitment to providing training support,
modern machinery and qualified faculty for the initiative. Dr. Sakthivel expressed his personal support
for the project and sought Smt. Hema Somanathan’s support in exploring similar collaborations in
other states, with the aim of bringing apparel skills and income-generating opportunities to more
women.
The engagement builds on the three-year Memorandum of Understanding signed by ATDC and
IASOWA on 15 July 2025. The partnership combines ATDC’s apparel training expertise with IASOWA’s
commitment to women’s welfare. Its training facility operates at Grih Kalyan Kendra, Sector 4, R K
Puram, New Delhi, with IASOWA providing space and essential utilities and ATDC supporting training
delivery.
Progress presented for the meeting highlighted 47 students trained under the GAP-sponsored one-
year Diploma in Apparel Manufacturing Technology and another 25 trained in the Sewing Machine
Operator course. Beyond classroom learning, ATDC has helped women produce sling bags, laptop
sleeves and home furnishing products for IASOWA. Participants have earned remuneration through
this work while gaining practical experience in production, costing, quality and finishing, linking skill
development with livelihood support.
Dr. Sakthivel also assured IASOWA President that overall two batches, consisting of 20 candidates
each, sponsored by GAP or from any other CSR donor organisation would be earmarked for the R K
Puram Centre.
The meeting places the partnership’s next phase within Dr. Sakthivel’s emphasis on continued
institutional support and wider outreach. Building on the R K Puram experience, the proposed
expansion offers a pathway to connect more women with practical apparel training, productive work
and opportunities for greater economic independence.