Why India needs more women in the workforce

Disha Project aims to identify and address gaps in women’s access to employment by bridging the gap between education and employment for women by providing them with aptitude tests, career-counselling, employability skills and exposing them to private sector cos.

The action from the department follows a notice from the Public Grievance Commission (PGC), and a hearing. — One major obstacle for young girls is information gap, as they are often unaware of their abilities, interests or opportunities. (Representational photo)

Written by Clement Chauvet

Soni, a 27-year-old woman and a mother of two, yearned for years to be independent, to work and to support her husband in running their house. She was married off at the age of 17 and was not allowed to step out of her house to work or study further. When she visited her friends, who were all economically independent, they made fun of her that she got married early, had children immediately thereafter and didn’t do anything constructive.

It took a toll on her self-esteem. Soni did not get any support from her in-laws and her family. The whole process of convincing and winning this battle with her family to allow her to work and handover to her the school certificates so that she could enroll for a training, took seven years.

She now receives training in cosmetology in Ghitorni with the support of Ikea Foundation supported Disha Project, an initiative of UNDP India in partnership with India Development Foundation which aims to enable many more women like Soni to get skilled and be a part of the workforce. She dreams of educating her children and of a brighter future for them and is happy to contribute in running the household.