India Holds Skill Development Program for Entrepreneurs
The scheme targets non-literates, neo-literates, individuals with rudimentary education, and school dropouts up to class 12th, aged 15-45 years.
India’s Minister of State, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Jayant Chaudhary, addressed a zonal conference for Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, on July 11.
The aim is to create awareness about outreach and the efficacy of JSS in creating self-employment and wage employment opportunities among socio-economically backward groups through skill development training.
Moving beyond traditional skills, the conference also emphasized on the relevance of futuristic, industry-relevant skills and their role in better preparing individuals for the evolving job market. The Minister also inaugurated the exhibition of products made by JSS candidates from Delhi and UP and interacted with beneficiaries.
The Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme, originally launched as Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP) in 1967, is a transformative initiative designed to provide skill training through registered Societies (NGOs) with full funding from the Government of India.
The scheme targets non-literates, neo-literates, individuals with rudimentary education, and school dropouts up to class 12th, aged 15-45 years. By offering flexible, affordable, and accessible skill training, JSSs have become a lifeline for women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and other disadvantaged groups in society.
Currently, over 290 JSSs are functional in 26 States and 7 UTs including 47 in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and 3 in Delhi. Since the transfer of the scheme from the Ministry of Education (Erstwhile MHRD) to MSDE in July 2018, a total of 26.37 lakh beneficiaries have been trained under the JSS scheme.
The qualified beneficiaries consist of educationally disadvantaged and economically backward groups in rural and urban slums. In line with the key objectives of the scheme, many trained beneficiaries are women 21.63 lakh (82.02%).
Speaking on the progress, Jayant Chaudhary said that the Ministry is dedicated to providing better opportunities for the youth. He asserted that under Jan Shikshan Sansthan, the aim is to enhance capacity building and expand skill development opportunities among low-income groups.
While applauding the Jan Shikshan Sansthan, for recognizing the skilled workforce gap in various sectors and acting as a bridge builder, connecting talent with opportunity, he also said that the process of skilling, reskilling, and upskilling are essential for personal and economic growth.
Jayant Chaudhary also informed that the PMKVY scheme has already benefited over 97,000 people from Meerut and 1.4 crore individuals across India. He further said National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) apprenticeship program plays a vital role in encouraging the employees to enhance their skill to match the ever-evolving industry requirements.
A key strength of the JSS Scheme lies in its community connect and the involvement of local administration, village functionaries, and other stakeholders. This ensures effective mobilization of infrastructure, resources, and beneficiaries, enabling them to seek various job opportunities in various industries such as food processing, textile, IT, and more. Additionally, JSSs conduct activities to raise awareness on critical social, economic, health, financial literacy, and environmental issues.
The Zonal Conference served as a platform for sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and strategizing for the future. These conferences aim to enhance the implementation and outreach of the JSS Scheme, ensuring it continues to empower the targeted communities effectively.
In the previous financial year, the Ministry conducted Zonal Conferences from 13th March to 22nd March, 2024, at four diverse locations: Hyderabad, Goa, Udaipur, and Guwahati. These conferences reviewed the performance of JSSs and gathered valuable feedback and suggestions for improving the scheme’s outcomes.
Courtesy: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
