In rural India, skilling is about nurturing the dreams and abilities of people, enabling them to build better lives by using the resources, traditions, and opportunities of their own land. Many rural communities, especially women and youth, face barriers to formal education, skilling and employment but possess deep knowledge of local trades, crafts, and ecosystems. By building on these strengths and tailoring training to local needs, skilling can become a powerful driver of self-reliance and rural prosperity.

The CII Foundation has been undertaking skilling of youth across India following the Recruit-Train-Deploy model. In 2024, to intensify the efforts with a focus on rural women, CII Foundation piloted sustainable livelihood programs in select villages of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand.