Context: During last three years of implementation from 2020-21 to 2022-23, a total of 107156 beneficiaries have been trained and an amount of Rs. 213.83 crore has been spent under PM-DAKSH.

About Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana

• This Yojana was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) in 2020-21.

• It is a National Action Plan for skilling marginalized persons covering SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, Sanitation workers including waste pickers.

Objective

• The main objective of the PM-DAKSH Yojana is to increase the skill levels of the target youth by providing them short term and long term skills, followed by assistance in wage/self-employment.

Target Group

• It aims to improve all-round competency of 2.7 lakh persons, over the next 5 years, beginning with nearly 0.5 lakh youth in the first year i.e. 2021-22, from the following sections of the target group:

• Artisans- who may be able to improve their revenue generation capacities within their practicing vocations;

• Women- who may be able to enter into self-employment and financially empower themselves without neglecting their domestic activities; and

• Youth- who may acquire long-term training and specialization in employable vocations and gain a better standing in the job market.

Eligibility

Candidates of age group 18-45 years belonging to any of the following categories can apply for the training programme under PM-DAKSH:

• Persons belonging to Scheduled Castes.

• Other Backward Classes (OBCs) having annual family income below Rs. 3 lakh.

• Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) having annual family income below Rs. 1 lakh.

• De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribe (DNT).

• Safai Karamcharis (including waste pickers) and their dependants