PM-DAKSH Scheme | 16 Mar 2022

For Prelims: PM-DAKSH Scheme, Initiatives Related to Skill Development.

For Mains: Government Policies & Interventions, Significance of PM-DAKSh Scheme in Providing Skill in the Marginalised Groups.

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has informed the Lok Sabha that the amount of funds earmarked under PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Yojana during 2020-21 and 2021-22 are Rs.44.79 crores and Rs.79.48 crores respectively.

What are the Key Points?

  • About:
    • It is being implemented from the year 2020-21.
    • Under this, eligible target groups are provided with the skill development training programmes on Short Term Training Program; Up-Skilling/Reskilling; Entrepreneurship Development Programme, and Long Term Training Programme.
      • These training programmes are being implemented through the government training institutes, sector skill councils that have been constituted by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and other credible institutions.
  • Eligibility:
    • Marginalised persons of SC, OBC, EBC, Denotified tribes, Sanitation workers including waste pickers, manual scavengers, transgenders and other similar categories.
  • Implementation:
    • It is implemented by the three Corporations under the Ministry:
      • National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC),
      • National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC),
      • National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
  • Status of Skill Development Training of Target Groups:
    • Skill development training has been imparted to 2,73,152 people of the target groups in the last 5 years.
    • A target, during the year 2021-22, has been set to provide the skill development training to approx 50,000 people of the target groups through these three corporations.

What is the Significance of the Scheme?

  • Minimal Economic Assets:
    • Most of the persons of the target groups have minimal economic assets; therefore, provision of training and enhancing their competencies is essential for economic empowerment/ upliftment of these marginalised target groups.
  • Helps Category of Rural Artisans:
    • Many of the persons of the target groups belong to the category of rural artisans who have become marginalised owing to the coming of better technologies in the market.
  • Empowers Women:
    • Women due to their overall domestic compulsions, cannot be involved in wage employment which normally involves long working hours and sometimes migration to other cities, there is a need to empower the women amongst the target groups.
What are the Initiatives Related to Skill Development?

PYQs

1. Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme’ is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to (2017)

(a) Certifying the skills acquired by construction workers through traditional channels.

(b) Enrolling the persons in Universities for distance learning programmes.

(c) Reserving some skilled jobs to rural and urban poor in some public sector undertakings.

(d) Certifying the skills acquired by trainees under the National Skill Development Programme.

Ans: (a)

2. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.

3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Source: PIB