Parliament Question: Empowerment of Minority Communities under PMKVY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2502 ANSWERED ON – 04/08/2025 EMPOWERMENT OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES UNDER PMKVY

2502. SHRI BUNTY VIVEK SAHU:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be

pleased to state: -

(a) the efforts being made in the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to empower minority communities through skill development and entrepreneurship;

(b) the manner in which the said scheme helps women belonging to minority community in the field of leadership and entrepreneurship initiatives;

(c) the role of the Handicrafts Export Promotion Council play in availability of market to the artisans under the said scheme; and

(d) the details of the support being extended by the Government to the industry partners to ensure better employment opportunities to persons trained under the PMKVY? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) a) & b) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing its flagship Scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) since 2015.

Under PMKVY, skill training is imparted through Short Term Training (STT) and Re- skilling and Up-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to youth across the country.

The Scheme has a provision of Special Projects to empower minority communities ensuring coverage of under-represented social groups - SC/ ST/ Women/ PwDs and geographic areas such as Aspirational Districts, LWE, Tribal districts, etc. Special attention has been given to women, tribal communities, and other marginalized groups in rural areas to promote their participation in the skill development programs. To encourage participation of women including women belonging to minority communities in skill development programs, special provisions have been made for meeting expenditure on conveyance and boarding & lodging as well as enhanced post placement support. Further, PMKVY 4.0 prioritizes and provides special focus to projects that emphasize women as primary beneficiaries. Projects are designed to align with local skill demands, creating opportunities for rural women to participate and benefit from skill development schemes.

c) The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which is also the promoting body of the Handicrafts Sector Skill Council (HCSSC), plays a pivotal role in supporting artisans trained under PMKVY. EPCH works to enhance market access by facilitating participation of artisans in domestic and international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and exhibitions. It supports design innovation, product diversification, and marketing strategies tailored to emerging market needs. This integration significantly improves the post-training livelihood outcomes for beneficiaries in the handicraft and carpet sectors.

d) The government has been taking several steps to ensure the implementation and expansion of PMKVY 4.0 across the country. These efforts aim to address skill gaps, improve employability, and support economic growth. A few of them are as

under: i. Focus on New Age Skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AR/VR, Climate Change,

Circular Economy, Green Economy, and Energy Transition. ii. Emphasis on Re-skilling, and Up-skilling under Recognition of Prior Learning

(RPL) through innovations in assessment, better monitoring. iii. Greater reliance on On-Job-Training (OJT) for better practical exposure to candidates. iv. Flexibility in course curriculums by introducing courses in partnership with industry.

v. Cross utilisation of available infrastructure with the educational institutions viz.

ITIs/Schools/Colleges/Universities/Central and State Government Institutions etc. vi. Training aligned to National Priorities and Policy Announcements focusing on clusters in sectors like semiconductor, 5G, AI, Green Hydrogen, EV, Solar Mission, Care, Tourism.

The Ministry has also launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a comprehensive and accessible platform for skill enhancement, offering industry-relevant skill courses, job opportunities, and entrepreneurship support to youth of the country in various sectors.

*****