NHAI Launches Project Saksham To Empower Rural Women

19 May 2026 CW Team

To date the initiative has trained over 6,000 youth and has placed more than 4,000 beneficiaries across various sectors, with average monthly incomes in the range of Rs 13,000 to Rs 16,000 that often surpass entry-level wage benchmarks in several states. Over 80 per cent of the beneficiaries are women, underscoring the programme's emphasis on gender-led empowerment and inclusive opportunity creation.

Aligned with NHAI's broader vision of inclusive infrastructure development, Project Saksham seeks to ensure that communities residing along the National Highways directly benefit from economic opportunities generated by infrastructure expansion. The programme aims to bridge gaps by enabling access to skills, employment and financial independence for communities that are connected yet often excluded from the economic momentum surrounding infrastructure projects.

The initiative is distinguished by its strong on-ground engagement model, in which field teams work closely within rural communities to build trust, address socio-cultural barriers and encourage the participation of women in skill development and employment opportunities, often for the first time. Participants are trained in a diverse range of vocational skills including electrical work, plumbing, appliance repair, tailoring, general duty assistant nursing and multi-skill technician training, with a view to equipping beneficiaries with practical, market-aligned capabilities that enhance employability and contribute to more resilient communities. The programme also seeks to foster local entrepreneurship and reduce migration pressures by linking training outcomes with local employment opportunities.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), in partnership with the Vertis Foundation, is driving Project Saksham to empower rural women through structured skill development and to create pathways for long-term financial independence and social empowerment. The initiative operates through a network of 12 training centres across the country and provides underserved communities with industry-relevant skills and pathways into the formal workforce. To date the initiative has trained over 6,000 youth and has placed more than 4,000 beneficiaries across various sectors, with average monthly incomes in the range of Rs 13,000 to Rs 16,000 that often surpass entry-level wage benchmarks in several states. Over 80 per cent of the beneficiaries are women, underscoring the programme's emphasis on gender-led empowerment and inclusive opportunity creation. Aligned with NHAI's broader vision of inclusive infrastructure development, Project Saksham seeks to ensure that communities residing along the National Highways directly benefit from economic opportunities generated by infrastructure expansion. The programme aims to bridge gaps by enabling access to skills, employment and financial independence for communities that are connected yet often excluded from the economic momentum surrounding infrastructure projects. The initiative is distinguished by its strong on-ground engagement model, in which field teams work closely within rural communities to build trust, address socio-cultural barriers and encourage the participation of women in skill development and employment opportunities, often for the first time. Participants are trained in a diverse range of vocational skills including electrical work, plumbing, appliance repair, tailoring, general duty assistant nursing and multi-skill technician training, with a view to equipping beneficiaries with practical, market-aligned capabilities that enhance employability and contribute to more resilient communities. The programme also seeks to foster local entrepreneurship and reduce migration pressures by linking training outcomes with local employment opportunities.

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