India To Launch Door-To-Door Pilot Project To Train 3,800 Adolescent Girls, Boosting Female Workforce Participation—Here's All About It

In a significant initiative, India is set to roll out a door-to-door mobilisation drive to equip adolescent girls with vocational skills and integrate them into the workforce. This first-of-its-kind program aims to significantly enhance women’s labour force participation and drive gender inclusivity in the nation’s economy.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) for a pilot project targeting 3,800 adolescent girls across 27 districts in 19 states. These young women will receive skills training in non-traditional sectors such as IT, hospitality, and green jobs.

To attract and retain participants, the government will provide incentives, including boarding and lodging costs, conveyance allowances, one-time travel reimbursements, and post-placement stipends. 

The program also integrates soft skills and holistic development training, focusing on health, wellness, and career counselling, alongside vocational education. The MWCD has mapped every adolescent girl district-wise, center-wise, and course-wise to monitor their training and placement outcomes. 

Identified job roles include non-clinical caretaker, play school facilitator, assistant creche caretaker, and care home supervisor, with each role entailing 32 hours of training.

Although the female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) in India rose from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24, it remains far below the global average of 53 per cent and the male participation rate of over 75 per cent. This pilot program seeks to bridge this gap by empowering women early, instilling entrepreneurial skills, and fostering economic independence.

If successful, the initiative could expand to additional districts and states. “This project aims to empower women, increase female workforce participation, and drive economic growth,” a senior official stated.

Through sustained efforts, India is taking a pivotal step towards achieving gender parity in the workforce and bolstering the nation’s overall economic growth.