Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana : A flagship programmed of the Government of India
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is a flagship programmed of the Government of India that aims to skill rural youth for gainful employment. It was launched on 25 September 2014 as a part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by the Ministry of Rural Development.
The scheme is named after Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, a renowned Indian philosopher, economist, sociologist, and political activist who believed in the philosophy of “Integral Humanism.” The DDU-GKY scheme is inspired by his philosophy and seeks to promote inclusive growth by enhancing the skills of rural youth.
The objective of DDU-GKY is to enable rural youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them secure a better livelihood. The scheme focuses on providing training in various sectors such as agriculture, construction, healthcare, hospitality, and textile, among others. The training is provided through a network of training partners, which include government institutions, private training providers, and NGOs.
DDU-GKY has a target of skilling 10 million rural youth by 2022. The scheme is implemented through the State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and provides training to unemployed and underemployed youth between the ages of 15 and 35. The training is provided free of cost to the candidates, and they are also given a stipend during the training period.
The scheme has several unique features that make it different from other skill development programmes. One of the key features is its focus on job placements. The scheme has a placement target of 70% for every batch of trainees. The placement target ensures that the training is demand-driven and the skills imparted to the trainees are relevant to the job market.
Another important feature of the scheme is its focus on entrepreneurship development. DDU-GKY provides support to rural youth who wish to start their own enterprises. The support includes the provision of seed capital, mentorship, and handholding support to help the trainees set up and run their own enterprises successfully.
DDU-GKY has been successful in achieving its objectives in the past few years. As of December 2021, the scheme has trained over 6.5 million rural youth, and around 60% of them have been placed in various sectors. The scheme has also helped in promoting gender equality as around 60% of the trainees are women.
The success of DDU-GKY can be attributed to its innovative approach, focus on demand-driven training, and partnerships with various stakeholders. The scheme has also received support from various international organizations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme.
In conclusion, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is a flagship scheme of the Government of India that aims to skill rural youth for gainful employment. The scheme has a unique focus on job placements and entrepreneurship development, making it different from other skill development programmes. The scheme has been successful in achieving its objectives in the past few years and has helped in promoting gender equality by providing training to a significant number of women. DDU-GKY is an excellent example of how innovative approaches to skill development can transform the lives of rural youth and contribute to the overall growth of the country.
