Getting job is not an easy task, especially in a rural district. But vision of a young IAS officer has provided youth a platform in Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh where they can easily get the job, matching their skills.
After meeting some salesmen who were working on meagre pay scales, 2016 batch IAS officer Rahul Deo created a platform called ‘Akanksha’, where youth can register themselves and later, district administration organizes a job fair for them. Here, companies select the candidates according to their need. More than 800 youth have secured jobs through ‘Akanksha’.
Some candidates who could not be selected, are being further counselled and provided training by the administration to upgrade their skills.
Indian Masterminds interacted with Collector of Mungeli, Mr Rahul Deo, to know more about his project.
AKANKSHA INITIATIVE
‘Akanksha’ was launched with a motto of ‘Sashakt Yuva, Sashakt Mungeli’ for bringing employment opportunity to district youth by creating a link between the demands of the employers and supply in form of the candidates.
Candidates go to Mungeli district administration’s website and find the Link for ‘Akanksha Employer Registration’ on home page. Using this link, they have to register themselves with filling a simple google form. After that, administration invites them to job camps. The district administration has so far oraganized six such camps, where 1600 youth were shortlisted by reputed companies. Half of them, more than 800 youth, got the jobs after final round of selection.
Mr Deo said, “It is a vision to bridge the gap between job seekers & opportunities. I joined here in June 2022 and started this initiative on World Tribal Day, 9th Aug, 2022.”
THE IDEA
Mr Deo was on a visit to Bilaspur in July, 2022, where he met some salesmen. After a brief discussion with them, Mr Deo surmised that there is dearth of such platforms where youth can find jobs matching their skills. Even if hey manage to get a job, they have to face problems like lower pay scale, bad work culture and ethics; and no job security.Following this he spoke to skills and training department in Mungeli and designed the Akanksha initiative.
He said, “Mungeli district has more than 90 percent rural population & agrarian economy. It also has a predominant population of scheduled castes. People are willing to work but don’t get opportunity to apply for jobs due to lack of communication and industries in the district. The youth have been wandering outside the district or the state, in search of jobs.”
The youths have been selected on posts like field executives, sales officers, and computer operators etc. They are getting paid from Rs 20,000 to Rs 84,000 per months.
RECOGNITION AT LAST
After many successful job camps, Chhattisgarh government recognized efforts of the district administration. Employment secretary lauded the initiative and vowed to replicate it in other districts as well.
The district collector remains head of the project and his office functions as the hub for instructions, supervision and resolution of queries.
Mr Deo said, “Different departments have been supporting us in this endeavor. The National Information Centre is the technological solution provider as a lot of work has been done in the digital format. A district call center helped us in circulating and promoting the campaign.”
