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As part of the 10-year celebrations of the Lighthouse Program, Smt. Manisha Verma, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Department, Government of Maharashtra, shares her reflections on the importance of building youth agency and strengthening partnerships to create sustained livelihood opportunities.

In her address, she highlights:
Why the Lighthouse model is a powerful example of a scalable Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
The importance of nurturing each young person’s aspirations, strengths and confidence—not just technical skills
How career counselling, digital literacy, communication skills and self-belief prepare youth for the future of work
The role of government, industry and civil society in addressing youth unemployment together
Why collaborative, youth-centred models like Lighthouse can be replicated across geographies

Since partnering with Lighthouse Communities Foundation in 2023, the Government of Maharashtra and LCF have expanded the Lighthouse approach through ITIs in Mulund and Thane, enabling thousands of young people with career counselling and pathways to employment.

Lighthouse Communities Foundation has partnered with the Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Department (SEEID), Government of Maharashtra, and the Directorate of Vocational Education & Training (DVET) since 2023 to strengthen career pathways for young people across the state. The Lighthouse model was first introduced at ITI Mulund in April 2023, followed by the launch of Model Career Centres (MCCs) in Thane and Nagpur in February 2024. The partnership has since expanded to support ITIs across Kurla, Dadar, Ulhasnagar, Kalyan, and several other locations in Mumbai and Palghar, with the next phase extending to Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Amravati.

Impact so far:
4,500+ youth reached through career counselling
1,500+ youth connected to skilling opportunities
2,000+ youth placed in jobs

As part of the Lighthouse Program’s 10-year celebrations, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Founder & Chairman, LCF, spoke with Shri Kunal Kumar, Former Municipal Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation, reflecting on the origins of the pioneering Lighthouse Public-Private Partnership model. The discussion explored the role of government, philanthropy and industry in enabling youth livelihoods, and the vision for scaling the Lighthouse model across India.