DNA Edit: Need a skill strategy

The Narendra Modi government’s flagship programme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), is now looking at decentralisation to reach out to the grass roots.

A district-wise approach will enable the government to tide over a growing unemployment crisis. At this point, the Skill India programme is looking at short-term goals, but, more importantly, the Centre has made it mandatory for training providers to report employment data under the scheme.

The twin-pronged strategy now entails improving the quality of the training imparted, and plugging information loopholes vis-à-vis the demand-supply dynamics of skilled candidates.

According to official estimates, only 2.9 lakh candidates out of the over 30 lakh trained under the programme were given job offers until July, which underlines why the government has to beef up the apparatus.

While the target is to impart employment-worthy skills to one crore people by 2020, the success of the scheme will be greater if these candidates also get employed or start their own business.

With the states joining hands with the Centre and district collectors taking the lead to ensure delivery, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will be closely monitoring the development. Once an action plan is drawn up for 100 districts, funds will be disbursed accordingly.

The key to PMKVY’s success lies in generating enough data so that the government can allocate skilled human resource to prospective employers.