Life Skills:A Study on Young Girls Working in Organized Sectors in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Introduction: One in every ten Indians is a young girl. Consequently, India hosts nearly 20% of the world’s population of young girls in age of 14 to 21years, and each and every one of them has the potential to contribute to India’s future economy¹. Yet, work participation rates for women remain dismally low¹. Denying girls the opportunity to finish their schooling and build income-generating skills, keeps them from realizing their economic potential³. Life skills development empowers learners to observe the process involving “what to do, why to do, how to do and when to do”. It encompasses the ability to build sound, harmonious relationships with self, others and the environment, the ability to act responsibly and safely, the ability to survive under a variety of conditions, and the ability to solve problems⁴.

Aim: To measure the level of life skills in young girls working in organized sectors, Coimbatore.

Results: The statistical measure of central tendency the mean age of the respondents is 17.42 years and there is no difference between the mean median and mode. Regarding the global score of life skills, the majority (40.8%) of the respondents had average level of life skills. There is significant association between education level of the respondents and their life skills levels, between experience and of problem solving skill of the respondents, association between educational qualification and of coping with stress level of the respondents.

Conclusion: Through this study it is evident that majority of the respondents had only average level of life skills. And it is understood that majority of the respondents had average level of life skills, so this is the main reason for young girls to become vulnerable in working environment. Vulnerable in the form of low wages, over work load, verbal abuse and suffering from occupational hazards. Through the promotion of life skill education to these young girls their quality of life and quality of work environment can be improved.