Livelihood and skill development is one of the largest CSR spending categories in India, typically accounting for a modest share of total CSR expenditure. Companies see direct ROI from workforce development — a skilled workforce benefits their operations and the broader economy. For NGOs working in livelihoods, vocational training, and rural development, this is a well-funded and growing space.
Livelihood and skills CSR by the numbers
In FY 2023-24, companies reported ₹3,600 crore of CSR spending filed as "Livelihood Enhancement Projects" and "Vocational Skills": 11.0% of all CSR spending that year. That is up from ₹551 crore in FY 2014-15, growth of about 23% a year. Its share rose, from 5.8% in the first three years to 9.4% in the last three. 1,616 companies filed under livelihood and 1,326 companies filed under vocational skills.
| Year | Livelihood and skills CSR spend | Share of all CSR |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2014-15 | ₹551 crore | 5.8% |
| FY 2015-16 | ₹721 crore | 5.3% |
| FY 2016-17 | ₹864 crore | 6.3% |
| FY 2017-18 | ₹1,337 crore | 8.2% |
| FY 2018-19 | ₹1,669 crore | 8.7% |
| FY 2019-20 | ₹2,171 crore | 9.1% |
| FY 2020-21 | ₹1,577 crore | 6.3% |
| FY 2021-22 | ₹1,860 crore | 7.2% |
| FY 2022-23 | ₹2,769 crore | 9.5% |
| FY 2023-24 | ₹3,600 crore | 11.0% |
Source: company-reported CSR filings published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (National CSR Portal), FY 2014-15 to FY 2023-24, totalled by Sampoorna; updated 4 October 2026. Amounts are as companies reported them, in the categories they chose. "Share" is the share of all CSR spending, including spending filed as PAN India.
Sub-Themes Within Livelihood CSR
| Sub-theme | What It Covers | Typical Funders |
|---|---|---|
| Vocational training | Short-term skill courses, certification programs, trade training | Manufacturing, IT, BFSI, retail |
| Entrepreneurship development | MSME support, startup incubation, business development services | Tech, banks, conglomerates |
| Women's livelihoods | SHGs, microenterprise, tailoring, handicrafts, food processing | FMCG, banks, apparel, conglomerates |
| Agricultural livelihoods | Farm productivity, FPOs, value addition, market linkages, organic farming | Agri-business, FMCG, conglomerates, PSUs |
| Rural development | Village infrastructure, rural livelihoods, watershed, non-farm livelihoods | Manufacturing, PSUs, conglomerates |
| Financial inclusion | Financial literacy, bank account access, digital payments, microfinance support | Banks, insurance, fintech, telecom |
| Digital livelihoods | Digital skills, freelancing training, e-commerce enablement, data annotation | Tech companies, IT services, telecom |
Which Companies Fund Livelihood CSR
Manufacturing Companies
Manufacturing companies fund vocational training and rural livelihoods near their facilities. They need skilled workers and prefer training programs aligned with their industry — automotive companies fund mechanical trades, textile companies fund garment skills, construction companies fund masonry and plumbing.
IT and Technology Companies
Tech companies fund digital skills, coding bootcamps, and digital livelihood programs. They're particularly interested in programs that train youth for the digital economy — data annotation, digital marketing, IT support, and basic coding.
Banks and Financial Services
BFSI companies fund financial inclusion, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship development. They also fund women's livelihoods through SHG support and microenterprise development. Their CSR is often aligned with their core business of financial services.
FMCG and Retail Companies
FMCG companies fund agricultural livelihoods (supply chain alignment), women's livelihoods (SHGs, microenterprise), and rural development. Retail companies fund vocational training for retail and supply chain roles.
PSUs
PSUs, particularly in energy and mining, fund rural development and livelihoods near their operational areas. They often fund large, multi-component rural development programs that include livelihoods as a key element.
The Connection to Government Schemes
Livelihood CSR is closely linked to government skill development and livelihood programs. Companies often align their CSR with:
- Skill India Mission: vocational training aligned with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) standards
- DDUGKY: Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana — rural skill training and placement
- NRLM: National Rural Livelihoods Mission — SHG promotion and women's livelihoods
- PMKVY: Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana — short-term skill training
Aligning your livelihood program with these schemes makes your proposal more attractive — companies can report their CSR as contributing to national skill development goals.
How to Position Your Livelihood NGO
- Show income outcomes, not just training counts: "Trained a cohort of youth" is an activity. "Increased average monthly income for a cohort of placed youth" is an outcome.
- Show placement rates: For vocational training, placement rate is the key metric. If you can show strong placement with income data, you'll stand out.
- Align with industry needs: Show that your training curriculum is aligned with actual industry demand. Partner with local employers for guaranteed placements.
- Demonstrate sustainability: Show that the income increase is durable — not just a one-time placement but a sustainable career path.
- Link to government schemes: Reference alignment with Skill India, NRLM, or PMKVY to show your program contributes to national goals.
What CSR Funders Look For in Livelihood Proposals
- Placement rate: What percentage of trainees get jobs or start businesses?
- Income increase: How much do incomes increase after training?
- Retention rate: Are trainees still employed 6-12 months after placement?
- Industry alignment: Is the training aligned with actual employer demand?
- Scalability: Can the program scale to more trainees or geographies?
- Cost per placement: What's the cost per successfully placed trainee?
- Women's participation: What percentage of beneficiaries are women?
Finding Livelihood CSR Funders
Use public records to find companies funding livelihoods and skill development in your geography. Look for companies in industries aligned with your training programs — if you train in automotive skills, target automotive companies. See our funder research guide for methodology.