The United Nations Development Programme in India (UNDP India) on Wednesday announced its partnership with Larsen and Toubro Infotech’s (LTI) corporate social responsibility initiative, and Friend’s Union for Energizing Lives (FUEL), an Indian non-profit organisation, to provide skill training to 2,000 women artisans in Mumbai and Thane.
The skill enhancement project aims to skill and create income opportunities through employment or entrepreneurship for women artisans, most of whom come from marginalised communities.
UNDP India will be the knowledge partner and FUEL the implementing partner. The Disha Project of UNDP India and India Development Foundation supported by Ikea Foundation is also providing technical and knowledge support. The Disha project focuses on enabling women in India to learn marketable skills and connect them with income opportunities.
Clement Chauvet, Chief, Skill Development, UNDP India, said, “Investing in women’s empowerment and skill development is one of the most urgent and effective means to drive progress on gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth.”
Women artisans in Mumbai and Thane will be organised in clusters and trained in business skills, product design and packaging. As part of the pilot initiative, 250 women artisans have been brought on board and trained in handicrafts, Warli painting, terracotta sculptures and more.
“Training and creating entrepreneurship opportunities for these women shall make them job creators rather than job seekers, which is the best way to enhance livelihood of the underprivileged communities. We look forward to creating a scalable and sustainable success story,” Ketan Deshpande, CEO of FUEL said.
By 2019, the project aims to touch the lives of 500 more women artisans.
