Self-employment kits distributed to 36 girls

Continuing its efforts towards women empowerment through skill development, Yog Manav Vikas Trust (YMVT) distributed self-employment kits to batch of 36 trained girls during an event at the Trust’s Antarnirman Complex on Friday.

Backed by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), the initiative aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for young women in the district. Gayatri Goyal in the presence of NHPC’s Executive Director, Group General Managers of Power Stations, and 40 participants from training programmes across the country.

Based at Banikhet of Chamba district, the YMVT has been providing skill training since 2002, benefitting over 3,000 girls in Chamba. In 2023-24, it entered into an MoU with NHPC to offer structured courses under the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Government of India. Under this programme, 120 girls are trained annually and receive self-employment kits upon completion to boost their earning potential.

Trust chairperson Kiran Dodeja said that 28 girls trained in Beauty Culture received self-employment kits in February, 2024 after completing their course, followed by another 62 in September, 2024. Additionally, 11 girls completed the one-year Computer Course (CCA), bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 101.

She said an impact assessment conducted by the YMVT found that over 85% of the girls who received kits last year are now earning between upto Rs 5,000 per month. Of the girls provided kits in September, 64% from the Beauty Culture course now earn upto Rs 6,000 per month, while 32 out of 34 trained in tailoring were earning up to Rs 10,000 per month.

Given the success of the programme, Dodeja said, the YMVT has decided to set up a new training center in Bakani village, Mehla block of the district in May 2025, in collaboration with NHPC’s Chamera-II Power Project.

NHPC’s Director (Finance), RP Goyal, who attended the event as the special guest, praised the programme’s success. He lauded the Trust’s role in promoting self-employment and assured continued support for similar initiatives to enhance women’s financial independence.

Himachal Tribune