Project Manzil, implemented in partnership with the Department of Education and the Rajasthan Skills and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC), empowered girls and young women in and out of school with skills and economic opportunities to delay early marriage and first pregnancy. The project maps girls’ aspirations, to link them with appropriate training opportunities, improving the quality of employability, skills training, and facilitating access to safe and secure jobs to enhance their participation in the workforce.
Initiated in 2019, in 6 districts of the State — Dungarpur, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, and Udaipur, was expanded in 2023 to cover an additional 4 districts — Alwar, Ajmer, Baran, Bhilwara, and Dausa.
Focusing on girls aged 15–24, the project adopted a two-pronged approach:
- In schools: Encouraged participation and retention in vocational education by linking them with on-the-job training and mentorship opportunities.
- Out-of-school: Facilitated enrolment in skills training programmes and supported their transition into meaningful employment.
Strategic Interventions
- Identifying girls who were out of school and initiating conversations to understand their aspirations and barriers.
- Counselling girls and their families to raise awareness about the value of skilling and economic independence.
- Registering girls on the Manzil App (MAP) and helping them identify courses aligned with their aspirations.
- Facilitating enrolment in Skill Development Centres (SDCs) and regularly monitoring attendance for course completion.
- Providing employability skills training at Skill Development Centres (SDCs) to make girls job-ready.
- Counselling skill-trained girls on employment prospects and connecting them with gender-audited employers.
- Monitoring the progress of placed girls for six months to ensure sustainable outcomes.
Impact
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71,000+ girls completed vocational education in schools
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28,000+ girls completed their skill training courses
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16,000+ girls placed in gainful employment
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70% girls completed 6 months and more on the job
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780 vocational trainers from schools trained in delivering employability skills
