Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Welcomes Memorandum of Understanding
Mumbai, August 2026 : With the objective of increasing women’s participation in the workforce in Maharashtra, the state government’s Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IPE Global Limited. IPE Global Limited had expressed its interest in partnering with the Maharashtra government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has welcomed the partnership and assured that the concerned departments will extend the necessary support for its implementation.
The initiative is being implemented successfully in Maharashtra under the leadership of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Women’s participation in the workforce in Maharashtra has increased steadily, rising from 20.2 per cent in 2018-19 to 26.6 per cent in 2023-24 among women aged 18 to 29. Various state government initiatives aimed at women’s skill development, promotion of entrepreneurship and expansion of livelihood opportunities have played an important role in this growth.
Against this backdrop, the state proposes to provide wage-based employment in the private sector to an additional 3 lakh young women aged 15 to 29 years. The campaign will be implemented by coordinating the efforts of various departments. It proposes to provide technical assistance at the state and divisional levels, set targets, make necessary resources and support available, and encourage the private sector to increase the proportion of women in its workforce.
The programme, planned for the 2026-2030 period, aims to strengthen the transition from skill training to employment, create supportive workplace environments for women and remove barriers to their participation in the workforce.
The programme will be implemented through a statewide campaign, strengthening skill development initiatives across departments, developing gender-related data and knowledge systems, and encouraging greater private-sector investment in women-friendly employment and infrastructure.
The proposal stresses the need for greater coordination among departments including Women and Child Development; Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Urban Development; Rural Development and Panchayati Raj; Industries; Energy and Labour; Tribal Development; Social Justice; Agriculture; Minority Development; Environment and Climate Change; Cooperation; Higher and Technical Education; and Fisheries.
Key Objectives of the Programme
The programme aims to increase the number of young women joining major sectors offering wage-based employment and make the transition from skill training to employment more effective. It also seeks to promote gender-inclusive workplaces through public-private partnerships and expand women’s access to infrastructure supporting their participation in employment.
The programme proposes action at four strategic levels: launching a statewide campaign, improving the quality and effectiveness of women-focused skill development schemes, strengthening systems and performance management, and increasing private-sector participation in creating inclusive employment opportunities for women.
The proposal also calls for increased investment in gender-inclusive infrastructure such as transportation, hostels and sanitation facilities. It includes plans to expand access to quality accommodation at training and employment centres and provide free or subsidised transportation facilities for women.
Expected Outcomes by 2030
The programme aims to provide wage-based employment to 3 lakh young women and employment-oriented training to an additional 1.5 lakh young women. It also proposes increasing the availability of functional hostel beds by 75 per cent for every 1,000 working women.
The broader objective is to provide women with greater access to safe and sustainable wage-based employment opportunities, thereby promoting their economic empowerment.
Economic Empowerment of Women is Government’s Objective
Manisha Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said economic empowerment of women and providing them with sustainable employment opportunities were key priorities of the state government.
She said the partnership with IPE Global Limited would play an important role in creating an effective pathway for young women in Maharashtra from skill training to employment. The government will focus on creating new employment opportunities for women through coordination among various departments.
She also stressed that private-sector industries must not only employ women but also provide them with safe and inclusive workplaces. The government is working to facilitate training and hostel facilities, she said, adding that the cooperation of all stakeholders would be sought to achieve the target of providing employment to 3 lakh young women by 2030.
The campaign, she said, would increase women’s participation in employment, strengthen their economic independence and contribute to Maharashtra’s inclusive development.
Focus on Training and Sustainable Employment
M.K. Padma Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, IPE Global, said economic empowerment of women could not be achieved through skill development alone and required a deliberate and well-integrated link between training and sustainable employment.
He said the partnership between IPE Global and the Maharashtra government was an important step in that direction. Based on the organisation’s experience of working closely with state governments across India, he said, bringing different departments together around a common objective, supported by appropriate technical assistance and accountability, could create meaningful outcomes.
IPE Global, he added, was keen to work with the Maharashtra government to ensure that women gain not only economic stability but also access to safe, dignified and sustainable employment opportunities.
