IMPHAL/UKHRUL: Sixty-three young women from Manipur are set to receive hospitality training and employment opportunities with Marriott hotels across India under Project Pranita, an initiative of the Red Shield Division in collaboration with Marriott International.
A felicitation programme for the initiative was held at Haflong Auditorium on Friday, bringing together senior Army and Assam Rifles officers and representatives associated with the programme.
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Project Pranita was launched in 2024, drawing inspiration from the Government of India’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhaoinitiative, with the objective of providing young women with education, professional training and sustainable employment opportunities in the hospitality sector.
Speaking at the programme, Sanjay Gupta, General Manager of New Delhi Marriott Marquis and Chairman of the Marriott India Business Council, said the initiative has already brought 257 young women into Marriott International hotels across India.
Under the programme, the beneficiaries undergo three years of hands-on hospitality training and receive a sponsored Bachelor of Tourism degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
Gupta said the programme is designed to equip the participants with both academic qualifications and practical skills, enabling them to pursue permanent careers in the hospitality industry after completing their training.
“The idea is to first equip the young woman with an education degree and then employ her in the hospitality sector,” he said.
The initiative is being implemented for the second consecutive year in collaboration with the Army and Assam Rifles. During its first phase in Manipur in 2025, around 43 young women were enrolled in the programme. They are currently working with Marriott hotels while pursuing their studies.
This year, another 63 young women are being enrolled and will be placed in Marriott hotels in different parts of India while pursuing their degree programme.
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Gupta said the initiative is also being expanded beyond the current batch, with Marriott International aiming to have more than 300 students under the programme by the end of 2026 and increase the number to around 500 over the next two years.
The programme seeks to create a direct pathway from education and vocational training to employment, particularly for young women from Manipur.
The function was attended by Maj Gen Shubhankar Basu, SM, VSM, GOC 57 Mountain Division; Brig PK Singh, Commander, 44 Mountain Brigade; Brig JS Gill; and Brig KVP Singh, DIG, Assam Rifles (South), among others.
