India, July 22 -- A nation is only as skilled as the people on its margins

For Pratibha Kalita, a 45-year-old artisan from a small village in Assam, weaving was integral to life, but only as a household skill and a means to clothe her family. With hands-on training - from refining her techniques and expanding her product range to learning brand building and business management, she transformed this generational craft into a thriving enterprise.

Today, Pratibha is a successful entrepreneur who, having secured her family's future, creates livelihood opportunities for other women while continuing to remain a proud custodian of her heritage. Her journey is a testament to how skilling is more than just a pipeline to employment - at its best,...