In rural Satara and surrounding districts, women often shoulder both agricultural labour and unpaid care work—yet have limited access to formal training, credit, and markets. Nishkam Shriseva Research Foundation’s Women Empowerment programme was designed to change that equation: practical skills first, then confidence, then economic participation.
From training rooms to real income
Over the past programme cycle, more than 200 women have completed structured training in tailoring, food processing, digital literacy, and small-business basics. Each cohort ends with a “market day” where participants showcase products and connect with local buyers—a simple ritual that turns learning into dignity and measurable sales.
We work through Self-Help Groups so learning is peer-supported: savings habits, group accountability, and shared problem-solving mean skills translate into sustained practice rather than one-off certificates.
“When a woman earns with dignity, the whole household shifts—not only income, but voice, nutrition, and children’s aspirations.”
What we measure next
We track placement and self-employment outcomes, average monthly additions to group savings, and follow-up mentoring contacts for six months after training. Early results show a clear uptick in women reporting independent decision-making on household purchases and children’s schooling—signals that go beyond rupees alone.
