Question : GRAMEEN KAUSHALYA YOJANA

(a) whether the Government has taken up a massive programme for skill development of rural youth through Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and the National Rural Livelihood Mission, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has reduced the minimum entry age for rural youth to 15 years from 18 years and plans to benchmark Indian skill programmes against international standards by roping in private players;

(c) if so, whether the rural youths would be provided with certificates recognized overseas and these rural youths can procure jobs abroad, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of persons provided training and employment under the DDU-GKY so far;

(e) the details of the targets and achievements made under the said scheme; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to monitor and evaluate the progress of the scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing two schemes for skill development under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), as follows:

(i) Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETI), which provides skilling, enables the trainee to take bank credit and start his/her own Micro-enterprise. Some of the trainees seek regular jobs also.

(ii) Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) placement linked skill training program (erstwhile Aajeevika Skills). DDU-GKY allows skilling in a PPP mode and placements in regular jobs in an organization not owned by the skilled person, including foreign placements, captive placement in an industry, placements by Champion employer (with assured career progression), placement through industrial internship, and placements on completion of long-term skilling courses.

(b) and (c): The minimum eligible age for a candidate to undergo training under DDU- GKY is 15 years. DDU-GKY allows skilling of rural youth under PPP mode through certification from National Council for Vocational Training and Sector Skills Councils. As per available information, the Sector Skills Councils standards in four sectors, i.e. Automotive, Telecom, Healthcare and Information Technology have been identified for developing as Transnational Standards for potential foreign placement of candidates.

(d) As per available information, since the year 2004, a total of 10,98,648 candidates have been given training under Placement linked Skill Development projects (i.e. pre-DDU-GKY projects including erstwhile SGSY Special Projects), of which 8,65,321 have been given placements (as on 10 February 2015). A total of 10,226 candidates have been trained under DDU-GKY projects, of which 3589 candidates have been given placements (as on 23rd February 2015).

(e) The Government has a target for training 10.50 lakh youth and giving placement to at least 7.87 lakh candidates under the placement linked skill development program in the Ministry of Rural Development in the 12th Five year plan. Against this target, a total of 4,80,528 candidates have been trained and placements given to 3,37,781 candidates under pre-DDU-GKY projects, and a total of 10,226 candidates have been trained and 3589 candidates have been given placement under DDU-GKY projects.

(f) The DDU-GKY guidelines provides for program implementation through a three-tier concurrent monitoring process, which includes, inter-alia, monitoring trainer and training quality, training center infrastructure and design, teaching-learning materials and certification.