The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) announced the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in 2014. DDU-GKY is a part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), tasked with the dual objectives of adding diversity to the incomes of rural poor families and cater to the career aspirations of rural youth.
Features of DDU-GKY
- DDU-GKY is uniquely focused on rural youth between the ages of 15 and 35 years from poor families.
- As a part of the Skill India campaign, it plays an instrumental role in supporting the social and economic programs of the government like the Make In India, Digital India, Smart Cities and Start-Up India, Stand-Up India campaigns.
- Inclusive program
. Mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups (SC/ST 50%; Minority 15%; Women 33%)
- Shifting emphasis from training to career progression
. Pioneers in providing incentives for job retention, career progression and foreign placements.
- It funds a variety of skill training programs covering over 250 trades across a range of sectors such as retail, hospitality, health, construction, automotive, leather, electrical, plumbing, gems and jewelry, to name a few. The only mandate is that skill training should be demand based and lead to placement of at least 75% of the trainees.
- Regional focus
. Greater emphasis on projects for poor rural youth in Jammu and Kashmir (HIMAYAT), the north-east region and 27 left-wing extremist (LWE) districts (ROSHINI).
- Greater support for placed candidates
. Post-placement support, migration support and alumni network
- Implementation
. DDU-GKY follows a 3-tier implementation model. The DDU-GKY National Unit at MoRD functions as the policy-making, technical support and facilitation agency.
. The DDU-GKY State Missions provide implementation support
. The project implementing agencies (PIAs) implement the programme through skilling and placement projects.
