Mumbai, March 1 Tribal women in Maharashtra are being trained to maintain residential schools, including hygiene and safe drinking water, under a state government initiative to boost rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods, officials said.
As part of the 'Adisakhi: WASHMITRA' initiative, the state Tribal Development Department, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA), trained 120 tribal women between September 2024 and November 2025.
They are actively providing services, earning a steady income, and strengthening essential WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) infrastructure in their areas while becoming financially independent, despite facing challenges such as irregular work demand and travel and distance barriers, the officials said.
These women now act as frontline operation and maintenance (O&M) support for 'ashramshalas' (residential schools) and local communities, they said.
"Through this initiative with UNICEF and CYDA, we are maintaining school infrastructure, including hygiene and safe drinking water facilities. The Adishakhis have become skilled leaders in their own communities," Maharashtra Tribal Development Department Secretary Vijay Waghmare told