Pillar: Opportunity Infrastructure
11.2% of enterprises in Cooch Behar are women-owned. 81.8% of women have their own bank account, close to the typical district. Small business loans in the district run at ₹39,043 per lakh population. NRLM Self Help Groups are the vehicle through which women access credit like this to build livelihoods.
75% of registered enterprises are in services while 25% are in manufacturing. Only 2% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 64% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12). Only 21% of ITI trainers are certified.
In Cooch Behar, which ranks 12 of 23 in West Bengal for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 44.3 out of 100. It runs ahead of the national picture on women's freedom of movement at 68%. On women in the labour force at 50.9% and women taking part in all major household decisions at 76.5%, it sits close to the national mark.
Mandated services and how to locate the NRLM Self-Help Group in Cooch Behar are in the Cooch Behar district course and the English reference guide (Hindi). See the Cooch Behar youth opportunity scorecard for the full district picture.