Skills development of women through vocational training-case study of CSR initiatives of a public sector undertaking

Skill Development of women is one of the components of empowerment of women. It encompasses several mutually reinforcing components but begins with and is supported by economic independence. Skill development of women helps in restructuring of gender relations within both family and society at large, and it is society's recognition of women's equality with men in terms of their worth to society as independent persons. Skill development is also essential to build capacities and confidence for taking decisions about one's own life at an individual and collective level.

The present article is an attempt to understand the relevance of Vocational Training and its impact on women of local area adopted by a public sector undertaking in New Delhi. The article is based on case studies through intensive interview about experiences of women; discussion has been done with resource persons of training centre of Corporate Social Responsibility-Community Development programme. Findings have been critically analyzed regarding major issues of skill development among women. It also reflects upon issues arising out among women after vocational training.

The article also tries to understand the relevance of CSR activities and its role in skill development of women; it tries to understand how CSR efforts through legislative measures are helping to address the issues related to skill development of women in contemporary society, while deliberating on interventions made by Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). The paper argues that if women are provided appropriate skill development training they can achieve economic independence which ultimately helps in gender mainstreaming. It has also given many suggestions and recommendations to strengthen the CSR activities for empowerment of women.