PM-DAKSH Scheme

Economy and Finance

PM-DAKSH Scheme

02 Feb 2024 Zinkpot 139

Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) is a government program introduced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The scheme is launched with the objective of economic empowerment/ upliftment through training of marginalized target groups: other backward classes (OBCs), economically backward classes (EBCs), de-notified, nomadic, and semi-nomadic tribes (DNTs), scheduled castes (SCs), and safai karamcharis (Sanitation workers) including waste pickers.
The scheme aims to enhance the competency levels of marginalized communities and foster better employment prospects for the targeted groups.
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), and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
The scheme provides training in various skill development programs, including:
- Up-skilling/Re-skilling – The training for rural artisans, domestic workers, sanitation workers, etc. on the vocation of practice, such as pottery, weaving, carpentry, waste segregation, domestic workers, etc. along with financial and digital literacy.
  - Duration: 32 to 80 hours and spaced over up to one month.
  - Stipends between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 8000.
- Short-Term Training Programmes – Focus on wage/self-employment opportunities such as self-employed tailors training, furniture making, food processing, etc. along with financial and digital literacy.
  - Duration: Normally 200 hours to 600 hours and up to 6 months, as stipulated in National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Qualification Packs (QPs).
  - Stipend of Rs. 22000
- Long-Term Training Programmes – Training programs will be as per NSQF, NCVT, AICTE, MSME, etc. in areas such as production technology, plastic processing, apparel technology, the healthcare sector, etc.
  - Duration: 5 months and above and usually up to 1 year (up to 1000 hours), as stipulated by the concerned board/regulatory body of the training center.
  - Stipend of Rs. 45000
- Entrepreneurship Development Programmes – Sessions on Business Opportunity Guidance, Market Survey, Working Capital and its Management, Business Plan Preparation, etc.
  - Duration: Normally 80-90 hours (10-15 days) or as stipulated by MoRD.
  - Stipend of Rs. 7000.
PM-DAKSH Yojana has a target to skill around 2,71,000 SC/OBC/EBC/DNT persons, Safai Karamcharis including Waste Pickers during the next five years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 286.42 crore for the projected training of 1,69,300 candidates from 2023-24 to 2025-26.