Walajapet has always known how to work with its hands. Once a thriving trade centre under the Nawabs of Arcot and later the British, this historic town in Ranipet district, earned its name as Tamil Nadu’s ‘Silk City’ through generations of weavers and craftspeople. Established in 1866 as Tamil Nadu’s first municipality, Walajapet carries a long tradition of enterprise. Walajapet Millennium Lions Club, District 3241H, is extending that legacy to the next generation of women.
Since its installation in 2000, the club has operated from its own building on the Chennai–Chittoor–Bangalore highway. The latest and most ambitious of its permanent projects is a certified tailoring training program that secured formal recognition as a Training Partner under the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) CSR Scheme in April 2025, under the guidance of District Governor N.D. Baskaran, PMJF.
The 360-hour tailoring program trains women between 18 and 35 years, awarding a Tamil Nadu Government certificate upon completion. The curriculum integrates theory, hands-on dress-making and album preparation, followed by third-party assessments that include written, practical and viva examinations. With a dedicated classroom, biometric attendance, CCTV monitoring, RO drinking water, and 20 tailoring machines, the centre is supervised by a qualified instructor in dress-making and fashion technology.
The numbers reflect steady, growing impact. The first batch of 25 students completed training between April and June, 2025 — a cohort that began with 30 approved seats and expanded to 40 through the club’s persistent advocacy. A second batch of 35 students trained from August to November, 2025. The third batch, which began in January 2026, is underway.
District Chairperson Er. T. Kuppusamy, Retired Assistant Executive Engineer (Rural Development), served as project liaison, drawing on his experience to guide the centre through approvals and ensure alignment with required standards.
In a town built on the dignity of craft, Walajapet Millennium Lions Club is ensuring that rural women today find the same path this town once made famous — through skill, self-reliance, and the quiet confidence of earning on their own terms.