Pillar: Agency & Engagement
14.8% of women in Darjeeling own land in their name, behind the typical district. 84.3% take part in all three major household decisions, better than the typical district. The District Legal Services Authority provides the free legal aid that backs these rights when they are contested.
86% of registered enterprises are in services while 14% are in manufacturing. Only 9% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 60% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12). Only 26% of ITI trainers are certified.
In Darjeeling, which ranks 3 of 23 in West Bengal for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 52 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women's freedom of movement at 61.5% and households in the poorest wealth group at 12%, while it lags on women who own a house at 17.7%.
Mandated services and how to locate the DLSA (Legal Aid) in Darjeeling are in the Darjeeling district course and the English reference guide (Hindi). See the Darjeeling youth opportunity scorecard for the full district picture.