New Delhi: The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) scheme trained 1,87,305 candidates and helped place 96,162 of them between 2020-21 and 2023-24, according to a factual report released by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Launched in 2020-21, the Central Sector Scheme aimed to provide skill training to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), De-notified Tribes (DNTs) and Safai Karamcharis, including waste pickers. Its objective was to support self-employment and wage employment and promote the socio-economic development of these groups.
The scheme was merged with the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) from 2024-25 to avoid duplication of skill training programmes.
PM-DAKSH: ₹309.5 Crore Spent Against ₹276.47 Crore Allocation
The total funds allotted for PM-DAKSH between 2020-21 and 2023-24 amounted to ₹276.47 crore. However, the actual expenditure incurred during the period stood at ₹309.5 crore, exceeding the allotted amount.
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Three Corporations Implemented the Scheme
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) implemented PM-DAKSH through three of its corporations:
- National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)
- National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
- National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
The department released funds to these corporations, which reimbursed training costs to institutes empanelled under PMKVY, administered by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
The three corporations also provided loan facilities and assistance to eligible beneficiaries to help them establish their own projects.
Training Institutes Required to Ensure Employment Outcomes
Under the scheme guidelines, training institutes were required to provide employment—through wage employment or self-employment—to at least 70% of trained candidates.
The guidelines also linked the final instalment of funding to employment outcomes. If an institute failed to meet the prescribed placement requirement, the third instalment, amounting to 30% of the training cost, was forfeited.
Training institutes were also required to collaborate with relevant industries to facilitate employment opportunities for candidates completing their courses.
Evaluation Reports Positive Learning Outcomes
The evaluation study found that PM-DAKSH training was relevant to beneficiaries’ career goals and local labour market requirements.
According to the study:
- More than 90% of beneficiaries reported that the training aligned with their career goals and local labour market needs and helped them achieve the intended learning outcomes.
- Beneficiaries reported non-financial gains, including improved confidence, self-esteem and social recognition.
- These gains were particularly significant among women and marginalised groups.
- Most beneficiaries continued to use the skills they had acquired and expressed expectations of long-term income growth.
- The study also reported positive sustainability outcomes, with beneficiaries indicating that they could maintain improvements independently.
Why PM-DAKSH Was Merged with PMKVY
From 2024-25 onwards, the government decided to subsume PM-DAKSH under PMKVY, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s flagship skill development scheme.
PM-DAKSH had been designed as an additional intervention alongside PMKVY. However, the job roles offered under PM-DAKSH were drawn from the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), which also covered those roles under PMKVY.
The merger was intended to avoid duplication between the two schemes while bringing the skill training programmes under a common framework.
PM-DAKSH thus served as a targeted skill development initiative for disadvantaged groups from 2020-21 to 2023-24 before being integrated into PMKVY from 2024-25.
