Dungarpur is one of the backward districts in Rajasthan. As per NFHS-4 (2015-16), 31 % of the women in the age group 20-24 years are married before attaining the legal age of 18 years in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan. Project Manzil in collaboration with District Administration hopes to change this Math by guiding these girls to economic empowerment in order to assist them to take their own decisions and negotiate their place in society.

As a start, 17 rural girls between 18-21 years of age, from the remotest areas of Dungarpur district are getting ready to travel to Bangalore to earn their livelihood. This is the first time these girls will be stepping out of their villages, leave alone the district. They hope to work in the Raymonds factory at Bangalore and come back home only for a short holiday around Holi. These girls come from marginalized and poor families and it is only through rigorous counselling and assurances that they have been allowed to step outside.

Manzil, a pathbreaking project implemented by IPE Global and funded by the Children Investment Fund Foundation, UK aims to economically empower girls through their increased participation in skill training courses and in decent forms of employment. The Project has signed an MoU with the Rajasthan Skill and Livelihood Development Corporation (RSLDC).

The Project has the complete support of the District Administration across Rajasthan. In the case of Dungarpur, Project Manzil is being supported by District Collector Suresh Ola and the District Skills Coordinator Lalit Chaudhary. Speaking on the eve of the girls departure to Bangalore, the District Collector said, “This is a great opportunity for these girls to learn new skills and use their current skill training. I am proud of them and their parents for understanding the need for girls to be empowered and to earn a livelihood.” District Skills Coordinator Lalit Chaudhary said, “While we are doing our best to train these girls in skills, Dungarpur offers limited economic opportunities. We are glad that organizations like IPE Global are collaborating with us to look at decent working opportunities for these girls.”

Manzil, a five year path-breaking project funded by the Children Investment Fund Foundation, UK, works in 6 districts of Rajathan, viz. Udaipur, Dungarpur, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Tonk and Jaipur. The project reaches out and mobilizes drop out poor girls to enroll them in RSLDC’s skilling programs and also to link them up with available opportunities for decent employment.