• Skill India Commences Training of 3 Lakh Migrant Workers from 116 Districts Identified Across 6 States under Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan. 

    • Guided by Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has begun skill training in 116 districts across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.

    • The initiative aims to empower migrant workers and rural population in the post-COVID era through demand-driven skilling and orientation under Centrally Sponsored and Centrally Managed (CSCM) component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2016-2020.

    • National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the aegis of MSDE, is executing the training programme through existing Training Providers and Project Implementing Agencies operating under PMKVY 2016-20 or state schemes.

    • 1.5 lakh migrant workers are being trained under Short Term Training (STT) programme,and another 1.5 lakh migrant workers are slated to be certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

    • The Skill Ministry is directing its efforts to organize skill training for various job roles as per local industry demand, as recommended by the district administrations.

    • Skill training and orientation programme across these identified districts has begun post accreditation and affiliation of Training Providers on Skill India Portal and subsequent approval of system-based targets.

    • Job roles that are in demand across these 6 states include Assistant Electrician, Self Employed Tailor, Retail Sales Associate, Customer Care Executive (Call Centre), Sewing Machine Operator and General Duty Assistant amongst others.

    • Eligible candidates are receiving Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for conveyance support, boarding and lodging, post placement support, assistive aid, and other support as per the guidelines.

    • Duration of the training programme varies as per job roles, ranging between 150 and 300 hours.

    • Candidates receive exposure to concepts of digital and financial literacy and an accidental insurance coverage for three years free of cost.

    • The Skill Ministry has trained more than 92 lakh candidates so far under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2016-2020.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)