“I didn’t have grand expectations—I only wanted a stable job. But today, I dream bigger.” – Nithya K., Fitter Fabricator Trainee, Hosur
In a country where the mobility of women—both physical and social—is often restricted by invisible yet deeply entrenched barriers, vocational training is quietly fuelling a revolution. It is enabling women not just to earn, but to move, migrate, and thrive in non-traditional roles. Nithya K.’s journey from a quiet town in Palakkad, Kerala, to the factory floors of Hosur is emblematic of this transformation—and is increasingly echoed by thousands of women across India.
Crossing Borders: A Personal Leap Towards Growth
When Nithya decided to move away from her home in Palakkad, it was more than a geographical shift—it was an act of courage. Though supported by her family, stepping into a city hundreds of kilometers away was daunting. The opportunity came through a campus interview for a Fitter Fabricator course offered by Sambhav Foundation in partnership with Kantar India Foundation. What caught her attention wasn’t just the technical training—it was the promise of a nationally recognized apprenticeship certificate, a guaranteed placement, and the chance to build a future on her own terms.
Like many women from underserved communities, Nithya had already broken the first barrier by enrolling in an ITI. But the transition from education to employment, especially in a male-dominated field like manufacturing, required more than technical know-how. It demanded emotional resilience, cultural navigation, and a safe ecosystem to support her growth.
Importantly, Nithya is part of a wider shift. Between 2017-18 and 2023-24, women accounted for 74% of the incremental increase in manufacturing employment in India—an extraordinary trend largely driven by rural women stepping into industrial workspaces traditionally reserved for men (ORF, 2024).
Vocational Training as a Launchpad
The Fitter-Fabricator program was designed to do just that—support not only skill acquisition but also a structured transition into the workforce. In her first week on the job at Ather’s IPQC (In-Process Quality Control) department, Nithya faced the challenge of adjusting to a new work culture, new tools, and a male-dominated workspace. But the program’s wraparound support—soft skills training on POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment), workplace safety, and communication—equipped her to hold her ground and thrive.
The data backs up Nithya’s experience: formal vocational training in India increases wages by 4.7% overall, and by 17.6% in manufacturing roles, compared to untrained individuals (SpringerOpen, 2019). Yet, uptake and retention remain a challenge—especially for women. Fewer than 25% of trained women remain employed in skilled jobs beyond three months, often due to constraints around migration and workplace safety (IGC, 2023).
Crucially, she wasn’t alone. Other women in the program, hailing from different parts of India, became her support system. Together, they navigated everything from technical hurdles to homesickness, from understanding new machines to building daily routines in a foreign city. The vocational program thus evolved into more than just training—it became a bridge from dependence to self-determination.
Redefining Safety: From Infrastructure to Empowerment
For women like Nithya, safety isn’t just about streetlights and security guards—it’s about being able to exist, grow, and express oneself without fear. The program recognized this and responded with structural safeguards: women-only hostels, safe transport, dedicated dining areas, and gender-sensitive workplace practices. These provisions created an ecosystem where women could focus on learning and working, rather than defending their right to be there.
Beyond physical security, the hostels became spaces of emotional solidarity. Many of the women had migrated from states where even stepping out of the house for work could invite scrutiny. Here, they found a community that listened, encouraged, and celebrated small wins—be it learning a new machine, sending money home, or simply making it through a difficult day.
“A safe space is where women don’t just feel protected, but also heard, seen, and respected. It’s where they can speak without fear, learn without judgment, and grow without barriers,” says Rajashree V., one of the trainers leading gender awareness sessions.
A study by Yale’s Economic Growth Center underscores the importance of this support system: women are significantly less likely than men to accept job offers that require relocation. Programs that build trust through safe accommodation and gender-friendly workspaces improve retention and reduce dropout rates (EGC, 2023).
Financial Freedom, Professional Confidence
Earning ₹13,000 a month as a first-time earner gave Nithya a sense of self-worth that transcended the workplace. She now contributes to her family’s expenses and participates in financial decisions—experiences that would have been out of reach had she stayed back. More importantly, her view of herself has changed. Once unsure about her place in the manufacturing sector, she now sees a future of growth and upward mobility.
This isn’t just a personal gain—it’s an economic necessity. India’s female labour force participation rate is just 37%, compared to the global average of 47%. Closing this gap could boost India’s GDP by ₹2.9 trillion (60%) by 2025, as estimated by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR, 2023).
Changing the Narrative: Women in Non-Traditional Roles
The idea of women working as fitter-fabricators or handling quality control on factory lines still challenges traditional gender norms. But every woman who joins such a program chips away at societal expectations. With every machine she operates and every paycheck she earns, she sends a powerful message: women belong everywhere—including on factory floors.
In sectors like textiles and apparel, women already make up over 55% of the workforce (Data for India, 2024), but in fields like mechanical fitting, their presence remains sparse. Programs that normalize this shift can create ripple effects—encouraging families, communities, and employers to reimagine who gets to build India’s industrial future.
Conclusion: Towards a Future Without Limits
When vocational training is designed with empathy, safety, and ambition in mind, it becomes more than a livelihood program—it becomes a movement. Through structured skilling, safe migration, and strong emotional ecosystems, programs like the Fitter-Fabricator course are redefining what is possible for women in India.
Women like Nithya are no longer waiting for permission to pursue their dreams. They are claiming their space, rewriting the rules, and building futures that reflect their potential—not societal expectations.
As more of them take flight, they are not just breaking barriers—they are setting new benchmarks for what it means to be independent in today’s India.
