More than 350 centres set up under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) not functioning in the state

Bijnor : In the absence of training centres under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) in Uttar Pradesh, not a single person in the state has been trained in relevant skill training in financial year 2017-18 until now.

PMKVY is a flagship scheme of the Union ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship. The objective is to enable a large number of Indian youths to take up industry-relevant skill training to help them secure better livelihood. In June 2017, after allegations of malpractices in implementing the scheme in UP, Haryana and Rajasthan, skill development centres which had been set up in these three states were shut down while the Union ministry launched an inquiry, which is still ongoing. There are an average of five to six such centres in each of UP’s 75 districts.

Bijnor district’s nodal officer for the scheme, who is also looking after Uttar Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Yojana (UPKVY), Pramod Prakash Atrey said, “No training centre in Bijnor district has been functioning since June. Earlier, I was appointed nodal officer for UPKVY and there was no control over PMKVY at the district level. The district magistrate appointed me for monitoring this scheme at the district level in December. I have found that no training is being given to the aspirants here under PMKVY. I have been informed that no centre in the state has been functioning since June.”

“On December 30, we got a letter from the state government to begin work under PMKVY and train youths. Four organisations have been nominated to begin this work. But they have not started the centres either,” Atrey added.

Assistant director of PMKVY, Karunesh Sinha said, “Earlier, there was no control of the state over the scheme. All training centres were under the control of Nation Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). It came to my notice through some sources that the training was pending in three states, including UP. But now central government has involved UP government in this scheme from this month. Central government has assigned a target to give training to 36,000 aspirants to the state government under UPKVY. We have started the process to set up centres in UP. Training will be started soon.”

Bijnor MP Bhartendra Singh said, “This scheme is very dear to PM Narendra Modi. I will look into the matter and talk to the officers concerned about the progress of the scheme.”

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