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Intel India has partnered with KATHA, a Delhi-based non-profit organisation, to launch an AI Data Annotation Course that will train 1,000 girls from the city's underserved communities.
The initiative, described as the first of its kind in India, is part of Intel's national Digital Readiness Program Portfolio. According to Intel, the course has been designed to equip young learners with foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence, ethical data practices, and industry-aligned skills in data annotation. "At Intel, our mission is to make AI skills accessible, inclusive, and impactful - unlocking opportunities for every child. This initiative equips learners, especially young women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, with the practical knowledge and path they need to thrive in an AI-driven world," said Shweta Khurana, Senior Director, Government Partnerships & Initiatives, Intel India. The programme will be offered free of cost and aims to create opportunities in a growing digital field where humans play a key role in training machines to build intelligence. The course is being rolled out through KATHA's KITES Labs (KATHA Information Technology & E-Commerce School). It specifically targets girls from families of daily wage workers, migrants, or domestic labourers who have had little or no prior access to computers. By bringing AI education directly into their lives, the initiative seeks to empower first-generation digital learners with both technical proficiency and problem-solving skills. The training will include AI fundamentals, data collection and labelling, ethical data practices, and hands-on learning with professional tools such as CVAT. Through this, participants will be prepared for roles such as data annotators, annotation specialists, and AI/ML data operations associates. Intel and KATHA highlighted that the programme is not only about skill-building but also about shaping aspirations. Many of these girls, who once struggled for basic survival, are now beginning to dream of careers in design, retail, BPOs, and emerging digital sectors with the support of KATHA's KITES program. KATHA is a non-profit organisation founded in 1989, which works at the intersection of building the joy of reading in children and empowering girls. KATHA's partnership with Intel marks a new trajectory in its journey, where AI education becomes a pathway for underserved girls to enter the digital workforce with confidence and ambition. "At KATHA, our mission has always been to empower children and young people from underprivileged communities through relevant education. Partnering with Intel enables us to bring future-ready AI skills to girls at the grassroots, opening new avenues for skilling, employability, and social impact," added Rajesh Soundararajan, Executive Director, KATHA Both organisations said they will work closely to create awareness about the programme, conduct hands-on workshops, and track its impact across the learner journey. Intel also outlined that this initiative builds on the values that both organisations share, that is gender equity, digital inclusion, and meaningful access to the future of work. (ANI)
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