SheLEADS: Pathways to Employment - Unlocking Opportunities for Women

New Delhi, 22 August 2025

SheLEADS, a new programme aimed at helping 1,000 young women in India secure employment, was launched on August 18, 2025. The initiative, a collaboration between CEMCA and Bharat Innovation Global (BIG), is designed to address the significant gender disparity in the nation's workforce, with a particular focus on young women residing in tier 2 and 3 cities and rural areas.

The programme will provide training in critical skills for the modern job market, including communication, critical thinking, and logical reasoning, and will also leverage the rise of remote work and the gig economy. It features a comprehensive curriculum with online modules, structured mentorship from 25 distinguished women, and exclusive talks on emerging career opportunities.

At the launch, Shri Mrutyunjay Behera, Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Education, highlighted the persistent global employment gap, where women's participation in the labour force is significantly lower than that of men.  He commended the two organisations for conceiving such a project.

Dr. B. Shadrach, Director of COL CEMCA, emphasised that SheLEADS is about more than just skills. "It is about empowerment, opportunity, and equitable growth," he stated, and urged women to become "agents of change" backed by the resources and support of the Commonwealth. He also noted that the learning from this pilot programme would enable CEMCA to launch a larger, scaled-up initiative next year.

Shri Praveen Prakash, IAS, a former Principal Secretary of School Education, also attended the event and praised the programme's potential. He was quoted as saying, "This initiative is a true testament to the power of collaboration in addressing a critical national challenge. Empowering our young women is not just a social cause; it is a strategic imperative for India's progress."

The programme aligns with India's National Education Policy 2020 and, if successful, may be scaled up across the entire Commonwealth. By investing in young women, SheLEADS is poised to not only transform individual lives but also to contribute to a more inclusive and dynamic national economy. This initiative has the potential to be a beacon of hope, demonstrating a commitment to unlocking the full potential of India's female workforce and fostering future-oriented, skill-driven education.