New Delhi: In a collaborative effort to expand employment opportunities for youth from remote border communities, the Indian Army and Monica Sarin Foundation (MSF) have launched Project Yuva Shakti, an initiative designed to provide industry-linked skill development and exposure to young people from the Dooars area in the north-eastern region of India. The programme commenced on August 25, 2026 enabling the first cohort of select 10 participants, including four young women travelling to Delhi for skill development and training across hospitality, healthcare and retail sectors.
The initiative seeks to address the limited access to career opportunities faced by many young people in the Dooars, a region where a significant proportion of families continue to depend on tea plantation-based livelihoods. Through industry-oriented training, workplace exposure and mentorship, Project Yuva Shakti aims to improve participants’ employability and future readiness for long-term careers.
Aashman Sarin, Director and Founding Member, Monica Sarin Foundation, said, “Talent exists everywhere but opportunities often do not. Through Project Yuva Shakti, we are working to bridge that gap by making an effort to connect young people from the remote Dooars region with industry relevant skills, exposure and pathways to employment. Our partnership with the Indian Army enables us to reach communities where such opportunities are often limited.
Commenting on the partnership, an Army Spokesperson also said, “Empowering youth of remote border areas like that of the Dooar region, is integral to our commitment towards inclusive development and nation-building. Project Yuva Shakti seeks to equip young people from the region with skills, confidence and exposure needed to pursue meaningful careers and contribute positively to their communities.”
Project Yuva Shakti is bult on Monica Sarin Foundation’s broader skilling initiatives through the Monica Sarin Centre for Advanced Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MS-CASIE), which has trained over 380 young people, with more than 299 transitioning to employment or entrepreneurial opportunities, as on September 22, 2026.
The project comes at a time when studies have highlighted persistent livelihood vulnerabilities among tea plantation communities in the Dooars and Darjeeling regions, including low incomes, employment insecurity and limited opportunities for youth. Against this backdrop, the initiative seeks to create pathways to industry-linked skills and sustainable employment for young people from underserved communities. For participants such as Snigdha Sharma, a Class XII graduate from the Dooars, the programme represents an opportunity to gain exposure beyond her immediate surroundings and work towards greater financial independence and long-term career aspirations.