Self-Help Groups of about 10 to 15 rural women under NRLM (Aajeevika), built into Village and Cluster Federations.
18.9% of enterprises in Varanasi are women-owned. 89.6% of women have their own bank account, better than the typical district. Small business loans in the district run at ₹50,017 per lakh population. NRLM Self Help Groups are the vehicle through which women access credit like this to build livelihoods.
60% of registered enterprises are in services while 40% are in manufacturing. Only 5% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 81% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Varanasi, which ranks 8 of 75 in Uttar Pradesh for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 49.1 out of 100. On women in the labour force at 44.5%, women's freedom of movement at 38.2% and women taking part in all major household decisions at 69.5%, it sits close to the national mark.