Nita Ambani marks birthday with foundation stone ceremony for 5,000-person care facility

Nita Ambani marked her birthday on Sunday by laying the foundation stone for a proposed 100-acre care township in Karjat, Maharashtra. The project, Nita Mukesh Ambani Anant Ashray, is envisioned as a lifelong home for more than 5,000 people, including orphaned children, senior citizens and people with developmental disabilities.Mukesh Ambani and members of the Ambani family attended the bhumi pujan and groundbreaking ceremony near Mumbai. The township, being established by Reliance Foundation, will be developed as a permanent, not-for-profit institution in phases. It is planned as a community with residential homes, healthcare facilities, schools, rehabilitation services and opportunities for education, work and recreation.Nita Ambani said the project was a step towards creating “a loving home for people with disabilities, children who need a home and seniors who seek care and comfort”. She said the township would combine medical support with the warmth of family life and give residents opportunities to learn, work, make friends and participate in festivals and celebrations.According to the plans shared by Reliance Foundation, the township will support a wider community of approximately 15,000 people, including residents, caregivers, medical professionals, support staff and their families.The proposed facility will comprise eight residential villages, each named after a sacred river of India. Residents will live in small, family-style homes supported by house parents and caregivers. Their rooms will be designed to offer familiarity and personal belonging, with residents encouraged to personalise their living spaces.The project will include a specialised hospital offering developmental medicine, epilepsy care, special-needs dentistry, palliative care and other medical services. Rehabilitation facilities for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy are also planned.Other proposed amenities include a temple, gardens, farms, playgrounds, workshops, cafés and inclusive sports and recreational facilities. An animal companionship farm is expected to be developed with expertise from Vantara.The township will also offer vocational training and employment opportunities through facilities such as a bakery, café and craft studios. A dedicated training academy for disability-care professionals, a hospice wing and a garden of remembrance are also part of the plans.The initiative is expected to have an impact beyond the township. Around 1,000 people from nearby areas are expected to access therapy, education and employment opportunities, while respite-care facilities, mobile medical clinics and outreach programmes will support families in neighbouring districts.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.