In a bold step towards digital empowerment, Yashoda AI is rewriting the narrative around artificial intelligence in India. Launched in May 2025 at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, this trailblazing initiative focuses on empowering women—especially from rural and semi-urban areas—with essential skills in AI literacy, cybersecurity, and digital safety. Spearheaded by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and powered by Future Shift Labs, the program aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat, where technology and inclusivity walk hand-in-hand.
What is Yashoda AI?
At its core, Yashoda AI is India’s first large-scale AI education initiative dedicated to women. It aims to democratise artificial intelligence by ensuring that even grassroots communities understand and benefit from the digital revolution. The initiative is designed to bridge the digital divide by offering practical, contextual AI training that enables women to use technology for personal and community development.
Yashoda AI isn’t just about introducing women to AI concepts—it’s about transforming how they interact with digital tools, apply them in real life, and advocate for ethical and safe usage.
Who’s Behind the Initiative?
The initiative is led by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with Future Shift Labs, a policy and innovation think tank. Future Shift Labs is committed to inclusive technology ecosystems and creating governance models rooted in equity and accessibility.
Sagar Vishnoi, Director of Future Shift Labs, explains the mission:
“Yashoda AI is not just about decoding artificial intelligence for the grassroots. It is about reclaiming agency in a digital age.”
11 Workshops and Growing Impact
Since its launch in May 2025, Yashoda AI has already conducted 11 workshops, touching various sections of society. These include rural women, first-time tech users, law enforcement officers, and local community leaders. One key session even included police officers in Moradabad, where the focus was on the ethical use of AI in public service.
Each workshop is meticulously curated, blending accessibility with depth. These sessions introduce women to modern AI tools and educate them on how to apply them in farming, family planning, education, small business, and more.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said during the launch:
“Women from the grassroots are not just learning about AI, they are asking how they can use it for their families, farms, and future. That is empowerment in its truest sense.”
What Is the AI Passport?
One of Yashoda AI’s most exciting innovations is the AI Digital Passport—a Hindi-language booklet that acts as a personal learning journal. This tool helps women track their progress across different AI applications.
It introduces popular tools such as:
- ChatGPT and Google Gemini for everyday questions
- Notion AI and ChatPDF for research and learning
- Canva AI for creativity
- Fireflies.ai for meeting notes and organization
Importantly, it also includes vernacular-language tools like Krutrim and Anuvadini, ensuring that language isn’t a barrier to digital empowerment.
What Is the AI Literacy Toolkit?
The AI Literacy Toolkit, also available in Hindi, goes beyond teaching software—it provides practical digital safety advice. Women are trained to identify and handle:
- Cyberbullying
- Online stalking
- Fake profiles
- Impersonation
- Data theft and privacy violations
The toolkit also explains legal rights and reporting mechanisms, empowering women to protect themselves and their families in online spaces. It is a groundbreaking step in combining AI education with real-world safety skills.
Why Yashoda AI Is Truly Unique
What sets Yashoda AI apart is its grassroots-first approach. Unlike traditional tech programs that are often inaccessible to the average citizen, Yashoda AI brings high-quality AI education directly to those who need it most.
Key features that make it stand out:
- Localized content in Hindi and other regional languages
- Gender-sensitive teaching methods
- Hands-on sessions with real tools
- Cross-sector engagement, including government and police forces
- Actionable skill-building for income generation and community upliftment
By embedding gender equity, social justice, and technological ethics, the initiative reimagines artificial intelligence as a force for inclusive growth.
Aligning with Viksit Bharat
Yashoda AI is a living example of Viksit Bharat’s mission—a developed India driven by innovation, empowerment, and inclusion. It embodies Modi’s call for women-led development, not just by delivering education but by creating an ecosystem where women are creators and contributors to India’s digital future.
The program ensures that AI is not the privilege of the elite but a tool for all, especially those on the fringes of the tech world.
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