MSS India has committed to supporting 30 young women from disadvantaged backgrounds through the Udayan Shalini Fellowship programme in Nashik, Maharashtra, providing five years of educational support, mentoring, and skills development from 2025 through 2030.
The partnership with Udayan Care, a non-profit organisation with special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, aligns with MSS International's commitment to social responsibility and community empowerment, particularly in advancing gender equality and educational opportunity.
Addressing educational barriers for young women
In India, girls from lower-income families face significant barriers to higher education. Only 68% of girls who enter Class X move on to Class XI, with financial constraints and cultural factors often preventing talented students from pursuing their educational aspirations. Currently, only 6% of Indian women above 15 years are college graduates.
The Udayan Shalini Fellowship addresses these barriers through a comprehensive support model that combines financial assistance with personalised mentoring, life skills training, and employability preparation. Fellows receive support from Class XI through college graduation or vocational qualification completion, typically spanning five to six years.
MSS India's commitment to the Nashik chapter
MSS India will support 30 newly inducted fellows in the Nashik chapter, providing financial assistance for educational expenses alongside access to the programme's mentoring and skills development components. The support encompasses scholarship funding, capacity-building workshops, employability training, and personalised mentoring through Udayan Care's pyramidal mentoring structure.
Selected fellows, called Shalinis (meaning "dignified women"), are chosen through a rigorous assessment process evaluating need, ambition, and talent. Candidates must demonstrate academic aptitude (minimum 60% marks in Class X), come from families with annual income below Rs. 216,000, and attend government or government-aided schools.
Beyond financial support
The Udayan Shalini Fellowship extends far beyond scholarship provision. Fellows participate in regular workshops covering life skills, career guidance, and social awareness. Each Shalini receives personalised mentoring from experienced professionals who provide academic guidance and support personal development.
The programme also requires 50 hours of mandatory social work annually, instilling a sense of social responsibility and community engagement. This "giving back" component ensures fellows develop as socially conscious citizens who contribute to their communities even while receiving support.
Employability and long-term impact
A structured five-year employability training programme prepares Shalinis for workforce entry, covering resume writing, interview skills, workplace etiquette, and professional development. More than 90% of programme graduates secure employment after completion, with many subsequently pursuing postgraduate education after gaining work experience.
The impact extends beyond individual fellows to their families and communities. Shalinis become role models, demonstrating the value of women's education and often becoming the first college graduates in their families. Parents develop more positive outlooks toward girls' education, and the incidence of early marriage decreases among programme participants.
Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Udayan Shalini Fellowship directly supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
This alignment reflects MSS International's broader commitment to integrating sustainability principles across social, environmental, and governance dimensions. Just as the company addresses environmental challenges through renewable energy and resource efficiency, this partnership tackles social barriers through education and empowerment.
Building stronger communities
For MSS India, located in Nashik where manufacturing operations serve global electrical infrastructure markets, supporting local educational opportunity strengthens community relationships while advancing gender equality. The five-year commitment demonstrates sustained engagement rather than one-time charitable contribution.
As fellows progress through their education and enter professional careers, they contribute to local economic development while serving as examples of what educational opportunity can achieve. Many become mentors themselves, extending the programme's impact to future generations of students.
MSS India's support for the Udayan Shalini Fellowship represents the company's recognition that sustainable business success connects to community wellbeing. By investing in educational opportunity for young women facing significant barriers, MSS contributes to creating a more equitable society while demonstrating corporate social responsibility grounded in measurable, long-term impact.
