Sewa to start India's largest skill institute for informal sector women in Sanand
The residential institute, named Kaushalya, will train 1,000 women annually in technical and digital sectors at its 8.15-acre campus.
The Self-Employed Women’s Association (Sewa) will begin construction on Monday for Kaushalya, a large residential institute in Manipur, Sanand. According to The Times of India, the facility aims to prepare young informal sector women for the demands of Industry 4.0.
The 8.15-acre campus will feature 20 technical laboratories, four digital labs, and specialised simulation yards. It intends to train 1,000 women every year, focusing on the 40 per cent of Sewa members aged between 18 and 35.
Developed with ITEES Singapore, the training will cover six sectors: healthcare, hospitality, beauty and wellness, solar technology, high-tech electronics repair, and electric vehicle maintenance. The project is supported by the Bagchi Foundation, established by philanthropists Susmita and Subroto Bagchi.
Susmita Bagchi, a former chairperson of Odisha’s Mo School Abhiyan, said her conversations with Sewa leaders regarding women's skilling evolved into this initiative. A press release from the foundation stated it chose Sewa due to its shared vision, scalability, and governance.
Sewa representative Reema Nanavaty said the training must match economic growth to ensure younger women in the informal sector find decent and dignified work. She noted the importance of equipping them with relevant skills to be future ready.