NHAI’s ‘Project Saksham’ Empowers Thousands of Rural Women Through Skill Development and Employment Drive

Project Saksham currently operates through 12 training centres across India, targeting underserved rural communities with industry-oriented vocational training and employment support.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in partnership with the Vertis Foundation, is driving a major rural empowerment initiative aimed at transforming the lives of underserved communities — particularly women — through structured skill development, employment generation and financial inclusion.

Through its flagship initiative, 'Project Saksham', NHAI is expanding the role of infrastructure development beyond roads and connectivity by directly linking rural populations to livelihood opportunities emerging from India's growing economic and infrastructure ecosystem.

The initiative reflects a broader shift in India's infrastructure strategy, where development projects are increasingly being integrated with social impact and community empowerment goals.

Project Saksham Building Pathways to Financial Independence

Project Saksham currently operates through 12 training centres across India, targeting underserved rural communities with industry-oriented vocational training and employment support.

To date, the initiative has:

• Trained more than 6,000 youth

• Successfully placed over 4,000 beneficiaries in jobs

• Enabled average monthly incomes ranging between ₹13,000 and ₹16,000

• Achieved over 80% female participation

The programme's strong focus on women's inclusion has made it one of the more significant gender-led livelihood interventions linked to infrastructure development.

Officials say many beneficiaries are earning incomes that exceed entry-level wage benchmarks in several states, marking a significant improvement in household financial stability and economic mobility.

Infrastructure Development Linked to Inclusive Growth

Project Saksham is aligned with NHAI's broader vision of ensuring that infrastructure expansion generates direct socio-economic benefits for communities located along India's expanding highway network.

The initiative is based on the principle that rural populations living alongside major infrastructure corridors should not remain excluded from the economic growth generated by such projects.

"Project Saksham is anchored in the belief that communities residing along the National Highways, in particular rural women, should directly benefit from the economic opportunities generated by infrastructure expansion."

As India continues investing heavily in roads, logistics and transport corridors, policymakers are increasingly emphasising inclusive growth models that integrate employment generation, skilling and social development alongside physical infrastructure.

Women at the Centre of Rural Transformation

A defining feature of the initiative is its emphasis on empowering women in rural communities where social, cultural and economic barriers often restrict workforce participation.

Field teams working under the programme actively engage with families and communities to build trust and encourage women to participate in vocational training and employment opportunities — often for the first time.

The programme's grassroots engagement model focuses on:

• Community mobilisation

• Family counselling

• Addressing socio-cultural barriers

• Building confidence among women participants

• Facilitating workforce readiness

Development experts say such localised engagement is critical for improving female labour force participation in rural India, where traditional gender norms often limit access to employment opportunities.

Market-Oriented Vocational Training Expands Employability

Participants enrolled in Project Saksham receive practical, industry-aligned training across a wide range of vocational sectors designed to improve employability and long-term livelihood prospects.

Training programmes include:

• Electrical work

• Plumbing

• Appliance repair

• Tailoring

• General duty assistant nursing

• Multi-skill technician training

The courses are structured to equip beneficiaries with market-relevant technical skills that match growing labour demand across multiple sectors.

Officials say the initiative aims not only to secure immediate employment but also to create sustainable pathways for long-term economic independence and upward mobility.

Rural Livelihoods and Skill Development Becoming National Priorities

Project Saksham reflects India's broader national focus on skill development, women's empowerment and rural economic transformation.

As India's infrastructure and industrial sectors continue to expand, demand for skilled labour is rising across both urban and semi-urban economies.

Programmes such as Saksham are increasingly viewed as important mechanisms for connecting rural populations to formal workforce opportunities while reducing regional inequalities.

Policy analysts say skill development initiatives linked to infrastructure projects can create powerful multiplier effects by:

• Expanding household incomes

• Increasing workforce participation

• Strengthening local economies

• Supporting gender inclusion

• Reducing migration pressures

• Enhancing social mobility

Inclusive Infrastructure Emerging as Development Model

NHAI's involvement in social development initiatives signals an evolving role for infrastructure agencies in India's broader development landscape.

Traditionally focused on transport connectivity and logistics, infrastructure institutions are increasingly being encouraged to contribute toward:

• Community development

• Livelihood generation

• Social inclusion

• Sustainability goals

• Economic resilience

Project Saksham is being positioned as a model of "inclusive infrastructure development," where roads and connectivity become catalysts for broader socio-economic transformation.

"This initiative underlines NHAI's commitment to ensure that infrastructure development not only delivers enhanced connectivity but also provides opportunities for inclusive growth."

Empowerment Beyond Employment

Officials associated with the initiative say the impact extends far beyond income generation.

For many participants, especially women from underserved rural communities, the programme represents:

• First-time financial independence

• Increased social confidence

• Greater household decision-making power

• Expanded career aspirations

• Improved quality of life

Development specialists note that women's economic empowerment often produces broader community benefits including improved education, nutrition and healthcare outcomes for families.

Building Resilient Communities Along India's Growth Corridors

As India continues building one of the world's largest infrastructure expansion programmes, initiatives such as Project Saksham highlight the growing effort to ensure that economic growth remains socially inclusive.

By integrating livelihood support, gender empowerment and workforce development into infrastructure planning, NHAI and its partners are helping create more resilient and economically connected rural communities.

Experts say such integrated development models could play a key role in shaping India's long-term strategy for balancing rapid economic expansion with equitable social progress.