Self-Help Groups of about 10 to 15 rural women under NRLM (Aajeevika), built into Village and Cluster Federations.
18.9% of enterprises in Dhanbad are women-owned. 66.7% of women have their own bank account, behind the typical district. Small business loans in the district run at ₹26,189 per lakh population. NRLM Self Help Groups are the vehicle through which women access credit like this to build livelihoods.
82% of registered enterprises are in services while 18% are in manufacturing. Only 5% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. Only 50% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Dhanbad, which ranks 5 of 24 in Jharkhand for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 48.9 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women's freedom of movement at 46.5% and women taking part in all major household decisions at 88%, while it lags on women in the labour force at 26.2%.