New Delhi, September 28 (IANS) Navya, an initiative with the aim of empowering adolescent girls through vocational training in emerging areas, is currently being pilot in 9 districts in 9 states, the government said on Sunday.
These districts have been identified as ‘aspirations’ by Neeti Ayog and Spanish Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The purpose of the program is to prepare these teenage girls for jobs in emerging fields and promote socio-economic freedom with personal hygiene to communication, workplace safety and financial literacy skills.
The statement said that after the pilot, the program will be expanded to cover 3,850 girls in 27 aspirational and north-eastern districts in 19 states.
Navya, small for ‘nurturing aspirations through vocational training for young teenage girls’, was started on 24 June, 2025, with minimum class 10 qualification for girls aged 16–18, especially in underscore and tribal areas.
In addition to traditional and service-oriented skills, courses cover non-conventional roles such as digital marketing, cyber security, AI-competent service, drone assembly, graphic design, CCTV installation and solar PV system.
In addition, a 7-hour training module is included which focuses on mutual skills including budget and income management such as sanitation, conflict management, communication skills, workplace security (POSH/POCSO law), and financial literacy.
The program connects trainees with job markets through internships and training in high-demand areas. The release states that it also promotes entrepreneurship by providing resources and mentorship for self-employment enterprises.
Navya is integrated with a government scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which promotes skill development by providing free, short -term training and monetary awards for youth skill certification.
The government said that the pilot implementation in nine states shows its ability to promote the sense of inclusive, gender-concert, flexibility and entrepreneurship among the participants.
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R/VD