Indus Valley Times

Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray to provide comprehensive care, healthcare and opportunities for orphaned children, senior citizens and persons with developmental disabilities

By Payal Banerjee

Mumbai, Nov. 1: Reliance Foundation Founder and Chairperson Nita Ambani on Sunday announced the establishment of Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray, a 100-acre inclusive township envisioned as a lifelong home for more than 5,000 people, including orphaned children, senior citizens and persons with developmental disabilities.

The initiative aims to create a permanent, not-for-profit residential community where people can live with dignity, compassion and a sense of belonging, supported by comprehensive healthcare, education, rehabilitation and opportunities for personal growth.

Nita Ambani performed the Bhumi Pujan and groundbreaking ceremony at the proposed site in Karjat, near Mumbai. The township will be developed in phases, subject to the necessary approvals.

Rooted in Reliance Foundation’s philosophy of ‘We Care’, the initiative seeks to create a nurturing environment where individuals of all ages and abilities can experience the warmth of family life, access specialised care and lead meaningful lives.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nita Ambani said the initiative was a deeply personal endeavour for her and her family.

“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.

She envisioned a community where compassionate care and medical support would blend with the warmth of family life, allowing residents to live close to nature and participate in learning, work, friendships, festivals and celebrations.

“As a mother, my deepest hope is that parents who have spent a lifetime worrying about who will care for their children when they are no longer there can find peace in knowing that their child will always have a home and a family of their own,” she said.

“Above all, we hope Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray gives every person, at every age, the chance to live with dignity and look forward to each new day with hope,” she added.

A community built around dignity and belonging

Envisioned as more than a residential institution, Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray will be a vibrant, inclusive township where residents live as neighbours rather than patients.

The community is expected to accommodate more than 5,000 residents, supported by caregivers, medical professionals, support staff and their families, taking the overall population of the township to approximately 15,000.

The proposed development will include residential homes, a temple, a hospital, playgrounds, gardens, farms and workshops, creating an environment designed to promote independence, social interaction and personal fulfilment.

Residents will live in small, family-style homes with dedicated house parents and caregivers. Each home will be designed to provide comfort, familiarity and a sense of personal belonging, with residents encouraged to personalise their rooms with photographs, colours and cherished possessions.

Every resident will have an individualised care and development plan prepared in consultation with them and their families. The plan will cover healthcare, education, skills development, employment, friendships and personal well-being.

A dedicated key worker will coordinate the care and support provided to each resident. The plans will be reviewed at least once every six months to ensure that assistance evolves with individual needs, from childhood through old age.

The township will comprise eight residential villages, each named after a sacred river of India. Every village will have its own distinctive colour, symbol and sensory garden to help residents navigate their surroundings with greater ease and independence.

Extending care beyond the township

The initiative also aims to become an integral part of the surrounding community by extending its healthcare, education and recreational facilities to neighbouring villages.

The proposed temple, hospital, sports facilities and cafés are expected to serve the wider region. Approximately 1,000 people from nearby areas are expected to access therapy, education and employment opportunities, while thousands more could benefit from respite care, outreach programmes and community healthcare services.

The township will bring together specialised healthcare, education, rehabilitation, recreation and vocational training within a supportive and inclusive environment.

Comprehensive healthcare and specialised facilities

The proposed facilities and services will include family-style residential homes with live-in house parents and dedicated caregivers, ensuring stability and personalised support.

A specialised hospital will provide developmental medicine, epilepsy care, special-needs dentistry, palliative care and comprehensive medical assistance.

Advanced rehabilitation facilities will offer physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy.

The township will also feature inclusive sports and recreational facilities, with opportunities for music, art, creative expression and sensory experiences.

An inclusive educational ecosystem will bring together special education facilities and a mainstream school for children of staff members.

An animal companionship farm, developed with the expertise of Vantara, will facilitate meaningful interactions between residents and animals.

Vocational training and employment opportunities will be created through facilities such as a bakery, café and craft studios, enabling residents to develop skills, earn wages and experience the dignity of work.

Other proposed facilities include family respite homes, mobile medical clinics serving nearby districts, a national training academy to strengthen India’s disability-care workforce and a dedicated hospice wing with a garden of remembrance.

The hospice will provide compassionate end-of-life care in a peaceful and dignified environment.

Supporting families and individuals with lifelong care needs

Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray is envisioned as a place of hope and belonging for people who are abandoned, alone or in need of lifelong care.

The initiative seeks to support families who have devoted years to caring for their loved ones, often with limited access to specialised healthcare, rehabilitation services and respite facilities.

For people living with developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy and complex medical conditions, particularly those requiring continuous specialist care, the township aims to provide support, security and opportunities that are often difficult to access outside major cities.

By combining residential care with healthcare, education, rehabilitation and employment, the initiative seeks to create a sustainable model of inclusive living.

Ultimately, Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray aspires to create a community where every individual is valued, every life is treated with dignity and no one is left without a home or a family to call their own.