In a quiet revolution unfolding across India’s diverse regions, women from vastly different backgrounds are stepping into formal employment, driven by a novel approach to skill development. The Skill Impact Bond (SIB), launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is marking a pivotal shift in India’s skilling strategy, The Times of India reported on July 29.
This first-of-its-kind outcome-based initiative aims not just to train, but to secure sustained employment for youth, especially women, ToI's report (by Manash Pratim Gohain) said.
SIB operates through a unique public-private partnership model, backed by organisations such as the British Asian Trust, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), JSW Foundation, HSBC India, and Dubai Cares.
Together, they have set an ambitious target: train 50,000 youth and ensure that at least 30,150 remain employed for a minimum of three months. So far, over 23,700 individuals -- 72% women—have been trained across 30 job roles spanning 13 sectors, partnering with more than 700 employers.
The results are promising. About 75% of those trained have secured jobs, and 60% have remained employed beyond three months. This is a marked improvement over national averages, particularly significant given the historically low retention rates for women in traditional skilling programmes, where fewer than 10% stay employed beyond three months despite high certification completion rates.
As India stands on the brink of a demographic peak, with aspirations for a $30-trillion economy by 2047, initiatives like SIB offer a roadmap to harness human capital effectively. Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, emphasises that this model goes beyond experiment, aiming to institutionalise outcome-based financing. This ensures that public funds lead to measurable social impact, especially in areas of skilling, employment, and women’s empowerment.
The stories of Puja Kumari, Ishrat, Simran Pandey and Sakshi exemplify this transformation.
Puja, a 26-year-old CNC operator from near Bokaro, became her family’s sole breadwinner after moving to Chennai for work.
Ishrat, from a conservative Delhi household, works in data entry in Noida while pursuing higher education.
Simran, hailing from Delhi’s working-class neighbourhoods, trains for a career in customer service, aspiring to be an air hostess.
Sakshi, a tribal woman from Jharkhand’s Malto community, left school early but found employment through an apparel training programme, now supporting her siblings’ education with a steady income.
These women face numerous hurdles—rigid social norms, migration challenges, financial pressure -- and yet their journeys signal a significant, if fragile, shift in India’s workforce. Jharkhand leads enrolments with 26% of trainees, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, highlighting the geographical diversity of the initiative.
One of SIB’s key innovations lies in its funding structure: payments to training providers are linked directly to job placement and retention, not merely enrolment or certification.
This incentivises ongoing support through onboarding, counselling and alumni engagement. It’s a clear break from traditional skilling schemes where the focus often ends with certification.
For these women, skilling is about more than just employment -- it is about agency and identity. As Ishrat puts it, stepping outside her comfort zone was necessary for growth.
Puja now trains others, hoping to inspire girls in her village. Sakshi says her job gave her purpose, beyond the income. As for Simran, she gained the confidence to pursue her dreams and support her family.
This first-of-its-kind outcome-based initiative aims not just to train, but to secure sustained employment for youth, especially women, ToI's report (by Manash Pratim Gohain) said.
SIB operates through a unique public-private partnership model, backed by organisations such as the British Asian Trust, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), JSW Foundation, HSBC India, and Dubai Cares.
Together, they have set an ambitious target: train 50,000 youth and ensure that at least 30,150 remain employed for a minimum of three months. So far, over 23,700 individuals -- 72% women—have been trained across 30 job roles spanning 13 sectors, partnering with more than 700 employers.
The results are promising. About 75% of those trained have secured jobs, and 60% have remained employed beyond three months. This is a marked improvement over national averages, particularly significant given the historically low retention rates for women in traditional skilling programmes, where fewer than 10% stay employed beyond three months despite high certification completion rates.
As India stands on the brink of a demographic peak, with aspirations for a $30-trillion economy by 2047, initiatives like SIB offer a roadmap to harness human capital effectively. Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, emphasises that this model goes beyond experiment, aiming to institutionalise outcome-based financing. This ensures that public funds lead to measurable social impact, especially in areas of skilling, employment, and women’s empowerment.
The stories of Puja Kumari, Ishrat, Simran Pandey and Sakshi exemplify this transformation.
Puja, a 26-year-old CNC operator from near Bokaro, became her family’s sole breadwinner after moving to Chennai for work.
Ishrat, from a conservative Delhi household, works in data entry in Noida while pursuing higher education.
Simran, hailing from Delhi’s working-class neighbourhoods, trains for a career in customer service, aspiring to be an air hostess.
Sakshi, a tribal woman from Jharkhand’s Malto community, left school early but found employment through an apparel training programme, now supporting her siblings’ education with a steady income.
These women face numerous hurdles—rigid social norms, migration challenges, financial pressure -- and yet their journeys signal a significant, if fragile, shift in India’s workforce. Jharkhand leads enrolments with 26% of trainees, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, highlighting the geographical diversity of the initiative.
One of SIB’s key innovations lies in its funding structure: payments to training providers are linked directly to job placement and retention, not merely enrolment or certification.
This incentivises ongoing support through onboarding, counselling and alumni engagement. It’s a clear break from traditional skilling schemes where the focus often ends with certification.
For these women, skilling is about more than just employment -- it is about agency and identity. As Ishrat puts it, stepping outside her comfort zone was necessary for growth.
Puja now trains others, hoping to inspire girls in her village. Sakshi says her job gave her purpose, beyond the income. As for Simran, she gained the confidence to pursue her dreams and support her family.
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