Skill Development – From Skills to sustainable livelihoods 

From skills to livelihoods, ARPAN empowers rural youth and women with the capabilities, confidence and opportunities to build dignified and sustainable futures. With more than 1 lakh youth and women reached through skill development initiatives, ARPAN mobilises, trains, certifies and supports individuals from rural and marginalised communities, connecting them to employment, self-employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood opportunities across diverse trades and sectors.

Implemented market-oriented skill development programmes across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, covering diverse trades such as hairdressing & styling, guest services, painting & decoration, tailoring, stitching, electrician and plumbing.

• Delivered industry-relevant vocational training through Skill Development Centres, combining classroom learning with hands-on practical training and on-the-job exposure.
• Supported youth and women with certification, placement assistance and self-employment opportunities, enabling them to transition from training to sustainable livelihoods.
• Promoted women-led micro-enterprises through tailoring and stitching training, along with enterprise development and market linkages.
• Strengthened SHG women’s entrepreneurial capacities by integrating skill development with collective enterprise models and income-generation opportunities.
• Provided tool kits and practical support to facilitate self-employment, particularly for trades such as electrician and plumbing.
• Undertook capacity building and skill enhancement of De-Notified Tribes (DNT) communities through targeted vocational training initiatives in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Focused on building job-ready skills, entrepreneurship, financial independence and sustainable livelihood pathways, particularly for women and youth from underserved communities.
• ARPAN’s approach goes beyond training—connecting skills with certification, employment, enterprise development and market opportunities to create pathways towards economic empowerment.
• 410 youth mobilised across 4 Skill Development Centres in SawaiMadhopur and Karauli; 230 trained and certified with a 100% pass rate.
• FPOs & Federations: Building Collective Enterprises and Sustainable Livelihoods: Arpan has facilitated the formation and strengthening of FPOs and Federations in its Project areas.
• Strengthening SHG Institutions: ARPAN has facilitated the formation and strengthening of 2,500+ Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across its programme areas and established On-farm and Non-farm based 600+ Micro enterprises units through skill development.
• “ApnaPoshakGhar” – Women’s Boutique: The federation has established ‘ApnaPoshakGhar’, a women-managed boutique that creates opportunities for income generation, entrepreneurship, skill development and market engagement.