When life dealt Kiran its harshest blow, she found herself without support, income, or certainty about the future. A resident of the Bhati Mines resettlement colony, she was left to care for her two children and elderly in-laws after the sudden loss of her husband.
Kiran chose resilience, through tailoring training under Pathshala 3.0, an initiative by Literacy India, she began rebuilding her life one stitch at a time. What started as a skill-building opportunity soon became a steady source of livelihood. Today, Kiran supports her children’s education and contributes to her family’s well-being, emerging as a self-reliant and confident member of her community.
Her journey reflects a broader transformation underway across Bhati Mines and Noida, where access to education, skills, and opportunities has traditionally remained limited especially for women and migrant families.
Over the past year, Pathshala 3.0 has impacted more than 1,300 learners across Bhati Mines (Delhi) and Shahpur (Noida), providing access to education, digital learning, and employable skills.
In Bhati Mines alone, over 600 learners have benefitted from programmes including remedial education, smart classrooms, and vocational training in tailoring, beauty and wellness, and basic IT skills enabling individuals to move towards sustainable livelihoods.
The programme is also driving meaningful behavioural change among children. Supriya, once known for her aggressive behaviour and disengagement in school, found direction through activity-based learning and mentorship. With exposure to STEM-based projects and leadership responsibilities, she gradually built confidence and emotional balance. Today, she actively participates in class and aspires to become a teacher.
A similar transformation is visible at the Shahpur Community Centre in Noida, where over 700 learners have gained access to quality, technology-enabled education aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). The initiative fosters curiosity, confidence, and practical skill development in semi-urban communities.
Beyond academics, Pathshala 3.0 focuses strongly on livelihood creation. Women and youth are trained in tailoring, beauty and wellness, and digital skills, while IT learners are introduced to coding basics and digital tools. Community outreach has also enabled enrolment in hospitality and skill-based programmes at reputed institutes in Noida.
One such example is Laxmi, a young girl from Shahpur determined to achieve financial independence despite limited means. Through a professional cooking course facilitated by Literacy India, she gained hands-on experience in food preparation and kitchen management. Today, she works as a chef at Haldiram’s, earning a stable income and supporting her family an inspiring testament to the power of skill-based education.
Captain Indraani Singh, Founder of Literacy India, said, “Across communities in NCR, daily life is often centred around securing livelihoods, where immediate needs take priority. In such circumstances, access to education and skills is not a privilege, but a critical enabler of stability and progress. Through Pathshala 3.0, we are working to bridge this gap ensuring that learning translates into real opportunities, empowering individuals to build resilience, dignity, and a more secure future”.
The initiative is further strengthened through the support of Teleperformance, which partners with Literacy India through employee volunteering, mentorship, exposure visits, and skill-building workshops helping learners connect with real-world opportunities.
Since its inception in 1996, Literacy India has impacted over 6.1 million lives through education and livelihood initiatives. Pathshala 3.0 continues this mission by transforming community learning centres into vibrant hubs of opportunity enabling individuals and families to build more secure and hopeful futures.
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