The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in partnership with Vertis Foundation, is expanding its women-focused skill development initiative ‘Project Saksham’ to promote sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth in rural communities connected to India’s highway network.
The initiative aims to empower rural women and underserved youth by providing industry-relevant vocational training, employment opportunities and pathways to long-term financial independence.
According to NHAI, Project Saksham currently operates through 12 training centres across the country and has already trained more than 6,000 youth. Of these, over 4,000 beneficiaries have secured employment across various sectors.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said participants placed through the programme are earning average monthly incomes between ₹13,000 and ₹16,000, often exceeding entry-level wage benchmarks in several states.
Women constitute more than 80 per cent of the programme’s beneficiaries, reflecting the initiative’s strong emphasis on gender-led empowerment and economic inclusion.
NHAI said the programme is aligned with its broader vision of ensuring that infrastructure development benefits communities residing along national highways, particularly those in rural areas who are often left out of the economic opportunities created by large infrastructure projects.
“Project Saksham seeks to bridge this gap by enabling access to skills, employment and financial independence for communities that are connected, yet often excluded from the economic momentum surrounding infrastructure expansion,” the authority said.
The programme focuses heavily on community-level engagement, with field teams working closely with rural families to build trust, address socio-cultural barriers and encourage women to participate in skill training and employment opportunities, often for the first time.
Participants are being trained in multiple vocational disciplines, including electrical work, plumbing, appliance repair, tailoring, nursing assistance and multi-skill technician programmes.
The Ministry said the training modules are designed to provide practical and market-oriented skills that improve employability in both formal and semi-formal sectors.
For many women beneficiaries, the initiative has become a transformative opportunity for economic self-reliance and social mobility, helping reshape aspirations within their families and communities.
NHAI said the initiative reflects its commitment to ensuring that infrastructure projects deliver not only physical connectivity but also long-term social and economic benefits.
The authority added that programmes such as Project Saksham are intended to create stronger and more resilient communities by linking infrastructure development with livelihood generation and inclusive growth.
