Pillar: Opportunity Infrastructure
35.9% of enterprises in Howrah are women-owned. 84.4% of women have their own bank account, close to the typical district. Small business loans in the district run at ₹40,122 per lakh population. NRLM Self Help Groups are the vehicle through which women access credit like this to build livelihoods.
63% of registered enterprises are in services while 37% are in manufacturing. Only 8% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. Only 49% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12). Only 40% of ITI trainers are certified.
In Howrah, which ranks 2 of 23 in West Bengal for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 52.5 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women's freedom of movement at 57.6%, while it lags on women in the labour force at 27.2%. On women taking part in all major household decisions at 79.2%, it sits close to the national mark.
Mandated services and how to locate the NRLM Self-Help Group in Howrah are in the Howrah district course and the English reference guide (Hindi). See the Howrah youth opportunity scorecard for the full district picture.