The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) came up with the DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), designed for rural India’s poor youth they can turn into a skilled workforce. According to the government, India’s potential number of workers is around 55 million. These are between the age group of 15 to 35 years. As the world may face a shortage of skilled workers, the Indian government is taking this as an opportunity to develop the poor youth of the country through this program.
The objective of the DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
Rural poor youth have to face several challenges such as lack of skills and proper formal education. The Yojana aims to overcome this issue by funding training projects that match global standards. Here are some significant objectives of the scheme:
- Reducing poverty with the help of sustainable employment programs
- Creating awareness about employment opportunities
- Finding the poor youth in rural areas and helping them.
- Mobilizing the youth who need employment.
- To counsel the child as well as their parents.
- Selection on merit for developing the skills of youth.
- Giving training and knowledge about various industries.
- Providing jobs that can lead to adequate wages.
Guiding Principles of the Yojana
- Poor are looking for various economic opportunities, and this, in turn, has created a demand for improving their skills.
- It has become essential to convert India’s workforce into a dividend. Social mobilization and an influential network of a powerful institution are required to make it possible.
- To enhance the skills of the poor and match them with Indian and global requirements, it is essential to focus on quality and standards.
Features of the Yojana
- Provide benefits to rural poor with training on skills based on demand at free of cost.
- The scheme includes socially disadvantaged groups.
- With this scheme, the government focuses on career progression aid for job retention and foreign placements.
- Provide placed candidates with migration support, post-placement aid, and alumni network.
- Around 75% of candidates should get confirmed placement.
- The scheme focuses on developing the skills of new training service providers.
- The scheme works towards developing poor youth in rural regions of Jammu and Kashmir (HIMAYAT), The North-East region, and 27 Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) districts (ROSHINI).
- The programs under the scheme follow Standard Operating Procedures.
Eligibility Criteria for Beneficiary
- Rural Youth:15 – 35 Yrs
- SC/ST/Women/PVTG/PWD: up to 45 Yrs
How to apply for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana?
- The applicant can visit Gram Panchayat and enroll there. Here a training center is suggested to them, or they get counseling.
- Next contact at the training center.
- Choose the trade you prefer and connect with the training center that provides knowledge on it.
- Next, you can apply online and register for the program under “Candidate Registration.”
Benefits of the DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
- Youth in rural regions get skill training.
- Assurance of placement to candidates.
- The advantage to the poor youth in the age group of 15 to 35 years.
- On course completion, candidates get a chance to earn at least Rs/- 6000 per month
- Candidates get the benefit of post-placement.
- Training partners get support for career progression.
- Youth of marginalized groups also get help from the scheme.
- Migration issues eased.
- Building networks with a proactive approach.
- Proper monitoring ensures that the output, which is the placements, is done effectively.
- States now have control of DDU-GKY projects and are the leading players.
- There are both annual action plans and single-state projects.
- Special schemes are there for the North-Eastern region.
- Project implementing agencies in the limelight.
Skill development and placement under the Yojana
- Creating awareness among various rural regions.
- Identifying the poor, needy youth in those regions.
- Mobilization of interested ones.
- Counseling
- Selection after an aptitude test.
- Sharing knowledge and enhancing the skills which can lead to employment.
- Providing placements where wages are above prescribed levels.
- Supporting youth for sustainable jobs.
IMPLEMENTATION MODEL UNDER THE YOJANA
The scheme consists of the 3-tier implementation model:
The DDU-GKY National Unit at MoRD– This unit frames policy provides technical aid and agency facilities.
The DDU-GKY State Missions: The unit’s function is to implement the support.
The Project Implementing Agencies: Their function is to implement skilling and placement projects.
How are projects under the scheme provided funds?
Under the scheme, there is the provision of the fund within the range of Rs. 25,696 to over Rs. 1 lakh per person. It depends upon the type of project, i.e., residential or non-residential, and the duration. The duration of the training should be between 576 hours (3 months) to 2304 hours (12 months).
The funding covers 250 trade sectors, including health, construction, retail, gems, plumbing, leather, and more. It covers training costs, post-placements provision costs, transportation costs, and career progression costs.
Currently, the scheme is implemented in around 460 districts across the country.