A residential school in backward blocks for SC, ST, OBC, minority and BPL girls; tuition, hostel and meals at no cost.
In Katni, 55.8% of girls aged 15 to 21 are out of education, behind the typical district. 74.8% of schools have a functional girls' toilet. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya exists to pull girls back into schooling and keep them there with residential support.
82% of registered enterprises are in services while 18% are in manufacturing. Only 8% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. Only 56% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Katni, which ranks 22 of 55 in Madhya Pradesh for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 44 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women who own a house at 55%, while it lags on secondary school enrolment in classes 9 to 12 at 55.9%. On women's freedom of movement at 44.5%, it sits close to the national mark.