Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, marked her birthday with an initiative focused on providing lifelong care, dignity and a sense of belonging to people who need sustained support. She laid the foundation stone for a proposed 100-acre care township, Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray, in Karjat, Maharashtra, on Sunday, November 1.
The ambitious not-for-profit project aims to create a permanent home for more than 5,000 residents, including orphaned children, senior citizens and people with developmental disabilities. Rather than functioning as a conventional residential institution, the proposed township is designed around the idea of community living, where residents can receive medical attention, pursue education, develop skills and build meaningful relationships.
The foundation was laid in a ceremony. attended by industrialist Mukesh Ambani and other members of the Ambani family. The project will be developed by Reliance Foundation in multiple phases, subject to the necessary approvals.
For Nita Ambani, the initiative represents more than the creation of a large residential facility. It is an attempt to address the concerns of families who worry about the future of loved ones requiring continuous care, particularly when parents or caregivers are no longer able to look after them.
Speaking at the ceremony, she described Anant Ashray as a project close to her family’s heart. She said the vision was to create a loving home for people with disabilities, children who need a family and elderly people seeking care and comfort.
The proposed township is expected to accommodate a wider community of approximately 15,000 people, including residents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, support staff and their families. This makes it a large-scale community care initiative, with facilities intended to serve both residents and the people responsible for their everyday support.
One of the defining features of Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray will be its residential design. The township is planned to have eight residential villages, each named after a sacred river of India. Residents will live in smaller, family-style homes rather than large institutional dormitories.
Dedicated caregivers and house parents will support residents in their daily lives. Their living spaces will be designed to create familiarity and a feeling of personal ownership, with individuals encouraged to personalise their rooms. The approach is intended to make everyday life feel more like living in a home than staying in a care institution.
Healthcare will be another central part of the project. Plans include a specialised hospital offering developmental medicine, epilepsy care, special-needs dentistry and palliative care. The facility will also provide rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy.
These services are expected to address a wide range of physical, developmental and medical requirements. Individualised care and development plans will be prepared for residents, taking into account their healthcare needs, education, skill development, employment opportunities and personal wellbeing.
The plans will also be reviewed periodically in consultation with residents and their families. This is intended to ensure that support evolves with an individual’s changing needs rather than following a fixed institutional routine.
Beyond healthcare and residential facilities, the township will include spaces for recreation, learning and social interaction. A temple, gardens, farms, playgrounds, workshops, cafés and inclusive sports facilities are among the proposed amenities.
A distinctive feature will be an animal companionship farm, which is expected to be developed with expertise from Vantara. The facility is intended to provide residents with opportunities to interact with animals as part of a broader environment focused on companionship and wellbeing.
The project also places emphasis on helping residents become more independent. Vocational training and employment opportunities are planned through facilities such as a bakery, café and craft studios. These spaces could allow residents to learn practical skills, explore their interests and participate in productive activities.
A dedicated training academy for disability-care professionals is also part of the proposal. The township will additionally include a hospice wing and a garden of remembrance, recognising the need for specialised end-of-life support and spaces for families to remember loved ones.
The initiative is not expected to benefit only those living within its 100-acre premises. Around 1,000 people from neighbouring areas are expected to gain access to therapy, education and employment opportunities.
Reliance Foundation also plans to extend support to families in surrounding districts through respite-care facilities, mobile medical clinics and outreach programmes. Such services could help families who need temporary assistance or cannot easily access specialised healthcare and rehabilitation services.
