What is Pradhan Mantri
Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)?
Even as he launched the Make in India campaign inviting
investors from all over the globe to invest and set up businesses in India,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised an abundance of skilled labour in the
country. Complementary to this was the idea of skills development among the
youth of the nation. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) was thus
envisaged as a key measure to impart skills-based training to young men and
women, making them capable of earning and supporting the nation’s anti-poverty
endeavours. The scheme becomes all the more important in the Indian society
which has the world’s largest youth population that requires employable skills
(356 million population between 10 and 24 years of age – The Hindu, Nov 2014).
Earlier this year, on 20 March 2015, the government of India
gave the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship a formal go-ahead
to formulate and implement the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
through the National Skill Development Corporation. With a total outlay of
about INR 1,500 crore, the PMKVY is likely to impart skills training to 24 lakh
youth of the country, focusing on the Class X/XII dropouts and lower income
groups. The scheme was developed over a period of almost three months and its
implementation started in select states (primarily Bihar) by early June 2015.
The scheme will be launched in all states of the country on 15 July – National
Skills Day. India’s unemployment rate averaged about 4.9 percent by early 2014.
This scheme should bring that number down by a reasonable measure.
Skills Needs
Assessment
According to the PMKVY plan published by the Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship in March 2015, one of the key objectives of
the scheme was to cover the skills training of about 24 lakh people. The
specific skills imparted would be decided based on the National Skill
Qualification Framework (NSQF) and on the basis of feedback from the various
industries that would potentially employ the trainees.
The specific skills trainings to be imparted have been assessed
by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) on the basis of demand in
recent skills gap by a study for 2013-17 period. Central ministries and state
governments departments were consulted and the inputs of various industry and
business heads were also considered. Skills needed to implement various other
flagship schemes such as Digital India were also assessed. Currently, about 428
job roles are being catered to by the skills training imparted under the scheme.
Enrollment Process
The government has partnered with various telecom operators to
create awareness about the PMKVY. After the nationwide launch telecom operators
are likely to send out mass SMS about the scheme and will provide potential
candidates a number to call. Candidates need to give a missed call to this toll
free number, following which they shall receive an automated call back
connecting them to an IVR. The potential candidate will, at this stage, need to
input his/her details into the system. These details will be recorded, and
screened. Candidates eligible to enroll for the training programmes will be
provided details of the nearest training centre and will be asked to report on
the training dates.
Implementation of the
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
In keeping with the draft plan, the scheme was launched (in
Bihar) and the NSDC partnered with about 24 sector skill councils. As of 1 July
2015, about 1,17,564 people from all parts of the country have already enrolled
for skills training. Training has commenced for some 1,07,080 trainees already.
The scheme’s implementation is being undertaken by NSDC’s training partners.
The NSDC has some 187 listed training partners with 2300 training centres
spread out in almost all the states of India. While the scheme is on a pilot
mode in select states, a nation-wide launch is expected by mid-July.
The total outlay planned for the scheme is over INR 1,500 crore,
of which INR 1120 crore is likely to be allocated towards the skill training of
some 14 lakh youth. Additionally, INR 220 crore will be spent towards the
“recognition of prior learning”. The scheme budget includes INR 67 crore that
shall be spent on spreading awareness and encouraging enrolment.
This includes implementation of the website and running
awareness campaigns. In this effort to create awareness about the PMKVY, the
NSDC will partner with state governments and municipal organisations and use
the administrative machinery extensively to mobilise candidates from the
grassroots level. The NSDC has also partnered with various business houses and
corporates in an effort to garner mentorship for the candidates and to secure
placements once their training is completed. The government has allocated INR
67 crore towards this. The scheme has the youth of the North Eastern region of
India in special focus. This region has been traditionally neglected and hence
a separate allocation of INR 150 crore has been made towards the training of
youth in this region.
Apart from training, the candidates shall also go through an
assessment at the end of the training schedule. A certificate of merit shall
also be issued to candidates at the end of this training period based on the
assessment. ‘Third party assessment bodies’ have been roped in by the NSDC to
assess the candidates on the skills acquired and a monetary incentive or reward
is given to exemplary candidates. The average monetary reward that each
successful candidate is likely to get is about INR 8000.
The scheme has placed much focus on the training partners. These
partner institutions have been studied and assessed before enrolment. Digital
training facilities and able instructors are highly valued by the NSDC for the
training sessions. The curriculum developed is highly relevant and efficient in
practical employability. Training sessions and the training institutes will be
constantly monitored by state government agencies and by the sector skill
councils. Feedback from the candidates themselves will also be sought.
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