Introduction
Streeksha, a transformative education initiative owned by the Development Consortium (DC), is designed to address the gender disparities in professional education and enhance financial independence for young women across India. This project recognizes the critical need to empower women through education and financial stability as a means to close the educational gender gap.
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Over the past decade, Project Streeksha has supported 23 young women in pursuing higher education. Twenty scholars benefited from the programme through 2025, and three new students joined the 2026 cohort. Today, Streeksha supports scholars from Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, enabling them to pursue higher education, develop leadership skills, move towards financial independence and build empowered futures.
Background
Despite a female literacy rate of 66 percent in India, female labor force participation remains low at only 27.2 percent. The disparity is more pronounced in professional education, where the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for females lags behind males, especially in states like Bihar and Rajasthan. Streeksha aims to rectify these imbalances by providing targeted educational opportunities and support.
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The project began in the Alwar district of Rajasthan as a small initiative by a local charity - Satish Kumar Shukla Memorial Trust (SKSMT). The main aim of the project was to bridge the gap between school education and financial independence by providing rural young women an opportunity to study beyond school and access higher/vocational education.
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The project aimed to do so by addressing key reasons behind young women dropping out after secondary education - lack of finances, family/social support, and gender norms.
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Among the first initiatives under the project was the setting up of annual bursaries, as well as non-financial support (coaching, mentoring, advising), to academically meritorious rural young women for pursuing graduation and post-graduation at Delhi or other Indian universities under the Satish Kumar Shukla Memorial Scholarships. The scholarships set up in 2016 cover tuition fees and living expenses for undergraduate programmes at the Delhi (or other) University.
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For it to grow in scale and become sustainable, enabling a larger group of female students, take strides towards higher education and bridge the current gaps to financial independence, the project was adopted by DC and launched the rechristened PROJECT STREEKSHA – EDUCATE to EMPOWER from July 2021.
What makes Streeksha unique?
Unlike many scholarships, Streeksha is not based on academic merit alone. During the selection process, we give equal weight to a scholar’s potential and her socioeconomic and financial circumstances. Whether a young woman can transform her own life and her family’s circumstances by pursuing a vocational course in her hometown or studying at a leading university in a metropolitan city, Streeksha supports her in choosing the path best suited to her aspirations. This flexible, circumstance-responsive approach enables disadvantaged young women to pursue meaningful education and sustainable careers.
Goals and Objectives
Streeksha's primary goal is to empower women through education, thereby enhancing their participation in the workforce and contributing to economic growth. Objectives include:
Increasing access to higher education for women through scholarships and financial aid.
Fostering a supportive ecosystem that overcomes financial, familial, and societal barriers to education for women.
Promoting gender equality in professional fields and empowering women to achieve financial independence.
Implementation Strategy
Streeksha employs a comprehensive strategy to achieve its goals:
Scholarships and Financial Support: Providing scholarships and monthly sustenance to overcome economic barriers.
Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship from successfully placed alumni to guide new candidates.
Continued Support: Offering guidance and support post-graduation to assist women in securing employment or starting entrepreneurial ventures.
Community and Family Engagement: Working to change societal norms and increase family support for female education.
Impact Stories
Streeksha has so far supported 23 young women from underserved communities in Rajasthan, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Our scholars have pursued professional education across diverse fields, including computer science, geoinformatics, nursing, life sciences, education and biotechnology. We share glimpses from a few success stories below.
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Annu Kumari
Our first scholar, Annu Kumari, is now a remote sensing scientist working on government projects in the agriculture sector. She has also contributed to studies related to Chandrayaan. Her journey from the small town of Behror in Rajasthan to India’s remote sensing programme is a testament to what encouragement, education and sustained support can make possible.
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“Receiving the Streeksha scholarship changed my life in many ways. The financial support helped me pursue my education at a renowned university in India, which opened doors to opportunities that I had only dreamed of before. The scholarship not only supported my education but also helped me believe in my potential and showed me that girls can excel and build successful careers in technical fields.”​
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Muskan Prajapat
From her home in Khairthal, Rajasthan, Muskan began by pursuing a BSc in Zoology at Delhi University. She later completed an integrated master’s programme in biotechnology and is now training as a data analyst. Her story shows that ambition, when nurtured, knows no limits.
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“Coming from a modest background, I had learned to limit my dreams. Streeksha removed those boundaries, enabling me to study at Delhi University, discover new interests, build confidence and reinvent myself. I have continuously evolved without the fear of financial limitations holding me back.”
Ekta Yadav
From Narwas village in Rajasthan, where her life was once headed towards early marriage, Ekta found her voice through education. With Streeksha’s support, she completed her BA in History from Delhi University. She has now completed her Masters in MA from Ignou, and teaches at a school while pursuing her B.Ed.
“This scholarship gave me more than an education. It gave me belief in my own potential. I will remain forever thankful to those who invested in my future. Their faith in me fuels my commitment to fulfil my own dreams and create opportunities for others, proving that their trust was truly well placed."
Sugandh Bhardwaj
An NCC cadet, yoga trainer and BTech graduate in Computer Science, Sugandh has not allowed her modest circumstances to limit her aspirations. Her parents, who are migrant workers in Delhi, were supported by Streeksha in ensuring that Sugandh could continue her education. A specialised course in ethical hacking from IIT Indore, also supported by Streeksha, helped her secure her first internship and begin building a career in cybersecurity.
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“Before Streeksha, financial stress and lack of guidance made continuing my education difficult. The scholarship eased the burden, gave me confidence and opened doors to learning and skill development. Today, I’m building my cybersecurity expertise with clarity and determination.”
​​Saadhna Foujdar
As the eldest of four siblings, Saadhna took on family responsibilities after the untimely loss of her father. Determined to build a secure future, she enrolled in the Government of Rajasthan's Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) programme. When financial challenges threatened to interrupt her studies, Streeksha stepped in with the support she needed to continue. Today, Saadhna is working as the School Nurse at National Academy School, Alwar, building a career in healthcare while creating a better future for her family.
"The Streeksha scholarship gave me the opportunity to continue my education when my family needed support the most. It has brought me closer to my dream of becoming a healthcare professional and given me the confidence that I can build a secure future for myself and support my family."
Stories in the Making
Saloni Sinha
Saloni is pursuing General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) programme at Bihar Para Medical College . Coming from a rural community from Bihar where access to higher education was limited, she aspired to become a nurse and serve mothers and newborns in her village. With the support of the Streeksha scholarship, Saloni has been able to continue her studies with confidence and move closer to her goal of building a career in healthcare and giving back to her community.
Mansi Raj
Mansi is pursuing a Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc.) in Operation Theatre Technology from Virohan Institute of Technology, Varanasi. With the support of the Streeksha scholarship, Mansi has been able to continue her education despite financial challenges, enabling her to focus on developing the knowledge and practical skills required for a career in patient care. She is currently gaining work experience at Cloud Nine hospital in Noida.
Shivani
Shivani is among Streeksha's first cohort of scholars from Uttarakhand. She will pursue a Bachelor of Hotel Management at Amrapali Institute, Roorkee. A graduate of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar, she is another inspiring example of the impact created through the Abhyuday–Streeksha partnership, helping young women transition confidently into higher education.
​​Ayesha Begum
Ayesha Begum is the first Streeksha scholar from Tamil Nadu. She will pursue a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) at Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Chennai. Her journey marks an important milestone in Streeksha's expanding reach, reflecting our commitment to enabling young women from diverse regions to access quality higher education.
Impact and Future Plans
Over the next few years, subject to the availability of funds, DC intends to:
Reach out to larger individual and institutional donors to partner and support the growth of the program; allowing the onboarding of a greater number of scholars from wider geographical regions; as well as build more evidence for the intervention and its impact.
Empanel schools in multiple states to create a pool of potential scholars, duly screened through the candidate selection process(es).
Create and disseminate skill-building modules for existing as well as prospective scholars such as English language skills; preparation for interviews; life skills etc.
Designing and collaborating with other organisations to offer our schools some upskilling opportunities.
Engage with state governments to enable us to work with the government-funded and supported schools to identify potential scholars.
Organize workshops during the year to analyze the aptitude and potential recruitment of candidates.
Read about the journey of first Streeksha scholar Annu Kumari here.
Support the Streeksha project here.