Tribal Women Lead School Maintenance in Maharashtra, Boosting Livelihoods

• 120 tribal women in Maharashtra are taking charge of residential school maintenance, including hygiene and safe drinking water, under the ‘Adisakhi: WASHMITRA’ initiative.
• The initiative, a collaboration between the state Tribal Development Department, UNICEF, and CYDA, trained women between September 2024 and November 2025.
• These women, known as 'Adisakhis' (friend of tribals), provide frontline operation and maintenance support for 'ashramshalas' (residential schools) and local communities, earning a steady income.
• The project aims to expand to 500 schools across tribal Maharashtra, proving that women can successfully handle technical roles traditionally seen as male-dominated.
• Adisakhis have significantly improved WASH systems, reduced dependency on contractors, and are setting up their own repair and maintenance businesses, empowering tribal women through sustainable livelihoods.