PM-DAKSH Scheme: Evaluating Skill Development Outcomes for Marginalised Communities

Why in News ? 

Recent data tabled in the Lok Sabha revealed that less than half of the candidates trained under the PM-DAKSH Yojana between 2021 and 2024 were successfully placed in jobs, raising concerns about the effectiveness of post-training employment linkages.

Background and Context

India faces a dual challenge:

• High youth unemployment,
• Skill mismatch between training and industry demand.

To address these structural gaps, the government has launched multiple skill development initiatives, including:

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana,
• Sector Skill Councils under the Skill India Mission.

However, marginalised communities such as:

• Scheduled Castes (SCs),
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs),
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS),
• De-notified Tribes (DNTs),
• Safai Karamcharis and waste pickers,

continue to face barriers in accessing formal employment due to social disadvantage, limited education, and lack of institutional support.

The PM-DAKSH Scheme was launched to provide focused, high-quality skill training to these vulnerable groups and enhance their employability.

What is PM-DAKSH Scheme ?

• Full Form: Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi Yojana.
• Nature: Central Sector Scheme.
• Aim: To provide quality skill training through recognised institutions to improve employment prospects of marginalised communities.

The scheme has now been merged with the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana to streamline implementation and improve outcomes.

Target Beneficiaries

The scheme covers:

• Scheduled Castes (SCs),
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs),
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS),
• De-notified Tribes (DNTs),
• Safai Karamcharis / Waste Pickers.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18–45 years.
• Income Limit:
  • OBC & EWS: Family income below ₹3 lakh per annum.
  • No income limit for SC, DNT, or Safai Mitras/Waste Pickers.

Types of Skill Development Programmes

1. Up-skilling / Re-skilling

Enhancing skills of already employed or semi-skilled individuals.

2. Short-Term Training Programmes

Focused vocational training for quick employability.

3. Long-Term Training Programmes

Comprehensive skill courses for higher competency.

4. Entrepreneurship Development Programmes

Encouraging self-employment and micro-enterprise creation.

Key Issues Highlighted by Recent Data

1. Low Placement Rate

Less than 50% placement suggests:

• Weak industry linkage,
• Skill-job mismatch,
• Limited local employment opportunities.

2. Quality of Training Concerns

Variation in:

• Institutional capacity,
• Trainer expertise,
• Infrastructure quality.

3. Post-Training Support Gaps

Insufficient:

• Career counselling,
• Placement tracking,
• Market integration mechanisms.

Significance of PM-DAKSH Scheme

1. Promoting Social Justice

The scheme directly targets historically marginalised communities, promoting inclusive growth.

2. Enhancing Employability

Skill certification can:

• Improve formal sector entry,
• Increase wage potential,
• Reduce vulnerability.

3. Reducing Poverty and Social Exclusion

Employment generation among disadvantaged groups contributes to:

• Economic mobility,
• Reduction in intergenerational poverty.

4. Encouraging Entrepreneurship

By promoting entrepreneurship training, the scheme supports:

• Self-reliance,
• Micro and small enterprise development.

5. Strengthening Human Capital Formation

Investment in skill development enhances:

• Productivity,
• National competitiveness,
• Demographic dividend realisation.

Broader Policy Context

The scheme aligns with:

• Skill India Mission,
• Inclusive development goals,
• Social equity frameworks under constitutional mandates.

Its merger with PMKVY aims to improve:

• Administrative efficiency,
• Resource optimisation,
• Standardisation of training modules.

Way Forward

• Strengthen industry partnerships for assured placements,
• Improve quality monitoring of training institutions,
• Introduce apprenticeship-based models,
• Provide post-placement support and mentoring,
• Enhance real-time labour market analytics.