A silent revolution is taking place in hinterlands as the narrative around women’s workforce participation has now shifted to states from metro cities. A steady transformation is underway in many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), and Rajasthan, taking advantage of skilling initiatives to break social barriers. Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) has emerged as a key platform that is helping drive this change across the country. Under the leadership of Ved Mani Tiwari, NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation), India’s apex skilling institution, has been spearheading initiatives to make skilling more accessible to women nationwide.
In Uttar Pradesh, over 1.17 million women have skilled themselves through SIDH. With 587,285 women in Assam and 524,520 women in West Bengal, both these states are not far behind, proving that women from rural areas and non-metro cities are breaking glass ceilings. Twenty-eight-year-old Mansha Mohmad from Budgam enrolled herself in SIDH courses and learned to repair mobile gadgets. “I never thought that I could repair a mobile phone on my own, but after learning through SIDH, I have fixed my phone myself.” Shreshtha Gupta, Chief Technology Officer, NSDC, says: “Technology is breaking traditional barriers in skilling, making learning more accessible and inclusive for women across India.” Online skilling courses by SIDH have opened new avenues for women in male-dominated industries in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat with over 10,000 women in Rajasthan and over 8,500 women in Gujarat opting for the courses.
Anita Kumari, 35, from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, says, “I always wanted to be financially independent. Even with two master’s degrees, I wasn’t sure how to start. The Beauty and Wellness course through SIDH changed everything for me.” Apart from these, 21-year-old Mohima Mondal from Burdwan, West Bengal; 24-year-old Shivani from Sangrur, Punjab; and 28-year-old Hemlata from Nainital, Uttarakhand have also managed to stand on their own two feet in life. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) is not merely providing courses—it is fostering a nationwide movement towards economic independence, entrepreneurship, and gender inclusion.