Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Sixty-three women from Manipur are entering the hospitality industry through Project Pranita. This partnership between the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and Marriott International provides jobs and academic training. The program aims to build sustainable careers for young women. It targets those from remote areas.
A felicitation event took place Friday at the Haflong Auditorium. Senior officers including Maj Gen Shubhankar Basu, Brig PK Singh, Brig JS Gill, and Brig KVP Singh attended. A separate event honored 29 candidates in Imphal, where Brig S. Prashant represented the 27 Sector Assam Rifles. These 29 recruits passed interviews at the Khuga Battalion Headquarters in late August.
Participants earn a Bachelor of Tourism or Hospitality degree. Some study at IGNOU, others at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University. Marriott sponsors the tuition. Students work paid internships while completing their studies. Sanjay Gupta, Marriott India Business Council Chairman, confirmed the scope of the project. He noted that 257 women have joined Marriott hotels since the launch in 2024. “The idea is to first equip the young woman with an education degree and then employ her in the hospitality sector,” Gupta said.
This is the second consecutive year of the program in Manipur. Forty-three women joined in early 2025. Marriott plans to scale up significantly. The goal is 300 students by late 2026. They want 500 total in two years. Gupta praised the recruits for their strong English skills and work ethic. The initiative draws its spirit from the government Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
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