Empowering Rural Women and Youth Through Partnership Between Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
In the face of rising inequality and unemployment in rural India, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have taken a significant step forward by signing a Statement of Intent (SOI). This collaboration aims to empower rural women and youth across India through a three-year initiative focused on creating livelihood opportunities.
What We’re Doing
The MoRD and UNICEF have established a pilot project in five states—Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan—and are working to establish Computer Didi Centers and Didi Ki Dukan in these areas. These centers will serve as hubs for connecting rural women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with jobs, self-employment opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and skill-building initiatives.
The potential of this initiative is vast. With over 10 crore SHG members across India, this network serves as a powerful social infrastructure that can reach nearly one-third of the youth—those who are already part of these groups—directly or indirectly. This pilot project has the potential to scale up and impact hundreds of thousands of women in more states after successful implementation.
The Plan
The three-year partnership will focus on creating a model that not only connects SHGs with jobs but also fosters economic empowerment, social inclusion, and gender equality.
- Pilot Project: Establish Computer Didi Centers in five states—Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan—to serve as pilot centers for the initiative.
- Scalability Models: Develop innovative models like a Youth Hub and scalability testing to generate thousands of Lakhpati Didis (women’s livelihood development projects) across India.
Success Stories
Over time, real-world examples have shown the impact of this collaboration. For instance:
- In Andhra Pradesh, the pilot centers in Jharkhand State connected over 500 SHGs with jobs and opportunities.
- In Odisha, a Youth Hub platform was created to help youth access job training, skills development, and volunteering opportunities.
These stories highlight the transformative potential of leveraging rural women’s networks for empowerment.
Conclusion
This partnership between MoRD and UNICEF is a significant step forward in addressing the systemic issues facing rural India. By connecting SHGs with jobs, skill-building, and entrepreneurship, they aim to create a brighter future for rural women and youth.
The future of rural women and youth lies in this collaboration’s potential to Empower them through sustainable economic development, social inclusion, and gender equality. Together, MoRD and UNICEF are setting a new standard for collective action in rural India. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this incredible initiative.
This blog will explore the details of the partnership and its impact on empowering rural women and youth in India.