The News:
- The Centre has decided to withdraw Udaan, a Special Industry Initiative (SII) scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.
About Udaan
- Udaan is a centrally funded skill enhancement scheme for J&K youth implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
- It was launched in 2013.
- The scheme is based on the recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee.
- Initially the time period of UDAAN Scheme was up to 2016-17, however, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) extended time period till December, 2018.
- The programme covers graduates, post graduates and three year engineering diploma holders.
- Objectives: to provide skills and job opportunities to the J&K youth and simultaneously provide exposure to corporate India towards the rich talented pool available in the State.
- Key stakeholders:
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) – Chief Benefactors
- State Government (Jammu & Kashmir)
- Corporates – Training Partners
- Implementation Agency (IA) NSDC
- Target:
- It aims to cover 57,000 youth of J&K over a period of five years.
- It is designed to encourage corporates to travel to J&K meet with the youth and hire aspiring youth who wish to explore the opportunity to work with corporates.
Reason for withdrawing Udaan:
- Youths did not want to take up employment outside Kashmir and Multi National Companies were unable to provide all opportunities in Kashmir.
- Other such employment schemes like Skill Development and Employment Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana are also being run in J&K to train and provide employment to the youths.
Similar Efforts in J&K:
- For the employment opportunity of the youth JKEDI (Jammu Kashmir entrepreneurship development institute) had been formed.
- The Central government of India introduced HIMAYAT scheme which is a training-cum-placement programme for unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Himayat scheme youths will be provided short-term training for at least 3 months, in a range of skills for which there is good market demand. At the end of the training, the youth are assured of a job and there is one year post-placement tracking to see how they are faring
Other Skill Development and Employment Schemes
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):
- It is the flagship outcome-based skill training scheme of MSDE.
- Objective: To enable and mobilize a large number of Indian youth to take up outcome-based skill training and become employable and earn their livelihood.
- It is being implemented through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
National Apprentice Promotion Scheme:
- Objective: To promote apprenticeship training and increase the engagement of apprentices from present 2.3 lakh to 50 lakh cumulatively by 2020.
- The scheme focuses on sharing of 25% of prescribed stipend subject to a maximum of Rs. 1500/- per month per apprentice to all apprentices with the employers.
National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015:
- Objective: Providing an integrated policy for comprehensive roadmap for growth of skilling as well as entrepreneurship in the country by addressing the needs of job seekers as well as job creators.
- It aims to promote a culture of innovation based entrepreneurship which can generate wealth and employment so as to ensure Sustainable livelihoods for all citizens in the country.
National Skill Development Mission:
- Objective: To consolidate skill initiatives across the country, and standardize procedures and outcomes.
- It will be implemented through a streamlined institutional mechanism driven by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
Seekho aur Kamao:
- Objective: Upgrading the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional skills depending upon their qualification, present economic trends and market potential.
- This can earn them suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self-employment.
