Reliance Foundation founder and chairperson Nita Ambani has announced plans for a 100-acre residential township in Karjat, near Mumbai, designed to provide lifelong housing, medical care and support to more than 5,000 people. The beneficiaries will include orphaned children, senior citizens and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Named Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray, the initiative is being planned as a permanent, not-for-profit institution. With caregivers, healthcare professionals, support personnel and their families included, the community is expected to accommodate around 15,000 people.
Nita Ambani performed the groundbreaking ceremony and Bhumi Pujan at the proposed site on November 1. Reliance Foundation said construction would progress in phases, subject to the required regulatory clearances.
Speaking at the event, Ambani said the project would focus on creating a supportive environment rather than merely providing accommodation.
“For me and my family, Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray is a beginning very close to our hearts. It is a step towards building a loving home for people with disabilities, children who need a home and seniors who seek care and comfort,” she said.
“We envision a community where compassionate care and medical support come together with the warmth of family life, where people live surrounded by nature, with opportunities to learn, work, make friends, and experience the joy of festivals and celebrations.”
The township will feature eight residential villages, each named after an Indian river and identified through distinct colours, symbols and sensory gardens. Residents will stay in smaller, family-oriented homes with dedicated caregivers and house parents, with scope to personalise their living spaces.
Planned amenities include gardens, playgrounds, farms, workshops, a temple and a hospital. Individual care plans will cover medical needs, education, skill development, employment and personal well-being.
A specialised hospital will offer services such as developmental medicine, epilepsy treatment, special-needs dentistry and palliative care. Rehabilitation facilities will provide physiotherapy, occupational, speech and hydrotherapy services.
The development will also feature inclusive educational facilities, sports and recreation spaces, vocational training centres, art and music activities, a bakery, café and craft studios. The initiative aims to create an environment where residents can access long-term care while participating in everyday community life.
Source: Business Today
