PM-DAKSH scheme now merged into PMKVY; 1.87 lakh candidates trained between 2020-21 and 2023-24

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued a fact sheet on the Pradhan Mantri Dakshata aur Kushalata Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) scheme. According to the report, it was a central sector scheme launched during 2020-21. Its aim was to give skill training through listed training institutes to youth from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, EWS, denotified tribes and sanitation workers, so that they could find wage or self-employment.

The scheme was run through three corporations of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment: the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation. These corporations reimbursed training costs to institutes listed under PMKVY. Institutes had to provide employment to at least 70 per cent of trained candidates; failing this, the third instalment, 30 per cent of the training cost, was not released.

According to the report, Rs 276.47 crore was allocated for the scheme from 2020-21 to 2023-24, while Rs 309.5 crore was actually spent. In this period, 1,87,305 candidates were trained and 96,162 were given employment. In an evaluation study, more than 90 per cent of beneficiaries said the training matched their career goals and local labour market needs.

The report says that from 2024-25, PM-DAKSH was merged into the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The stated reason was that PM-DAKSH was already running as a complementary scheme to PMKVY, and the merger was done to avoid duplication.