Here’s how skill training is changing lives of underprivileged youth

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The government launched the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) on January 15 this year with an aim to train eight lakh youths across the country. A total budget of Rs 948.90 crore has been allocated for this phase of PMKVY. According to the government, the orientation of the scheme has been changed to demand driven approach in the third phase based on the experience from PMKVY-1 (2015-16) and 2 (2016-2020).

Tata to influence one million applicants by 2022

Many corporate houses including the giants like Tata and Mahindra Group among others have joined the drive to train the underprivileged youth in various cities across the country. The skill development programme designed by India Inc includes both hard and soft skill training along with real-life experiences, case studies, brainstorming sessions and group discussions.

Tata Trusts’ talent development effort, Tata Strive, has set a target of influencing one million applicants by 2022. This is being accomplished by providing 3 lakh individuals with jobs through skill development. It also intends to improve the lives of 7 lakh people through skill development. A total of 6.5 lakh individuals have been trained under the Tata Strive initiative since 2014, according to its official website.

Tata Strive CEO Anita Rajan was quoted by the Times of India as saying that the company works with the underprivileged and provides them with a livelihood along with the overall personality development required for the job.

Similarly, to prepare trainees for the demands of the corporate sector, Mahindra Pride School incorporates a mandatory soft skills module that encompasses competency in spoken English, grooming, and computer skills.

According to Mahindra Group senior vice-president (CSR) Sheetal Mehta, Mahindra Pride School usually achieves 100% placement in reputed organisations every year for around 5,500-6000 youths trained through the 90-day training programme, the TOI report added. Presently the youth trained at Mahindra Pride School get jobs at a starting salary of over Rs 11,000 per month, claimed Mehta.

Companies like CEAT, offer young people skill training and hire them to work for its offices and factories in Halol, Nagpur and Chennai.  According to the CEAT’s Chief Human Resource Officer Milind Apte, the goal the goal is to not just help them gain skills, but also to provide them with a permanent job chance, the TOI report mentioned.

PMKVY

The PMKVY scheme was launched in 2015 and it was revamped in 2016 to impart skills to once crore youth by 31 March 2020. The Central government had also allocated Rs 12,000 crore for the scheme.

According to the skill development ministry, around 9.2 million youths had benefited under the scheme till October 2020.