Jaipur, July 30, 2024: “Speed, skill, saturation, and convergence are our government’s mantras for the skill ecosystem”, said Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State for Education, during his address at the Zonal Conference for Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) being organised at Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur.
The conference focused on the transformative power of JSS in fostering self-employment and wage employment among socio-economically backward groups through skill development training. The importance of embracing futuristic, industry-relevant skills was also highlighted to equip individuals for the dynamic job market better.
Discussing the progress, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, said, “The people on the ground are witness to the real impact of JSS’s vision and mission for societal upliftment. It’s heartening to see that 82% of our beneficiaries are women and those from marginalized communities who previously lacked opportunities and formal education. The dynamism of this scheme reflects the spirit of our nation – the dream of a Viksit Bharat.”
He added, “We have 1,620 ITIs in Rajasthan, out of which 165 are government ITIs. We also have two National Skill Training Institutes in Rajasthan, one of which is specifically for women. While reviewing the results of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana in Rajasthan, I learned about the surge in demand for skills in the electronics and automotive sectors, particularly for EV technicians among our youth. Initiatives like Lakhpati Didi, PM Jan Dhan, and PM Vishwakarma are reaching women and other segments of society, uplifting them with modern technology and financial support.”
“In the recent G20 task force, India’s digital strength was commended, highlighting how our Digital Public Infrastructure, our JAM and India Stack and has ensured that people benefit from our public schemes. In just five years, we’ve achieved what might have taken 50 years elsewhere. The Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), which functions like an Aadhaar card for skilling, training, and verification, is a testament to our commitment to digital empowerment. Today, more than 35 schemes from 22 different ministries are hosted on SIDH, and the app has witnessed 9.5 lakh downloads till date,” said Shri Jayant Chaudhary.
This was echoed by Shri Krishan Kr Bishnoi, Minister of State of Sports & Youth Affairs, Skill & Employment & Entrepreneurship Department, Govt of Rajasthan when he said, “The enthusiasm I see here today reflects a collective willingness to embrace change. I’m particularly pleased with the Jan Shikshan Sansthan initiative under MSDE. This program has substantially contributed to the welfare of our state, aligning perfectly with PM Modi’s vision of skilling, upliftment, and upskilling. The success of MSME and SHG clusters has significantly benefited our state, with women emerging as the primary beneficiaries. We are optimistic that Rajasthan will continue progressing and thriving through such efforts, becoming a hub for new businesses and industries, creating ample job prospects.”
Over the next two days of the JSS Zonal Conference in Jaipur, the 45 JSS participants will engage in academic sessions and hear from panelists representing FICCI, NABARD, SIDBI, and CII as they discuss the challenges and opportunities in New Age Entrepreneurship. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with successful entrepreneurs and participate in training sessions aimed at enhancing their financial acumen and understanding the procedures and formalities for securing bank financing. Day two will focus on reviewing the performance of JSS, strengthening livelihood cells through mentoring and handholding, and capacity building on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) by NSDC.
Currently, 290 JSSs operate across 26 States and 7 Union Territories, including 29 in Madhya Pradesh, 8 in Gujarat, and 8 in Rajasthan. So far, the total beneficiary count for the trained candidates stands at 26,38,028 and from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan we have close to 4.60 lakh beneficiaries who have received training under the JSS scheme. These beneficiaries primarily consist of educationally disadvantaged and socio-economically backward groups in rural and urban slums. Women make up the majority of trained beneficiaries, totalling 21.63 lakh (82%).
The Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme, initially launched as Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP) in 1967, seeks to provide skill training in a non-formal mode directly to beneficiaries through registered Societies (NGOs), fully funded by the Government of India. The primary goal of the scheme is to enhance household income by promoting self/wage employment through skill development training. The training offered by JSSs is flexible, affordable, and highly accessible to women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.
The JSS Scheme’s strength lies in its deep community engagement and the active involvement of local administration, village officials, and other key stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensures the effective mobilization of infrastructure, resources, and beneficiaries. Additionally, JSSs organize activities to raise awareness about critical social, economic, health, financial literacy, and environmental issues.
The scheme targets non-literates, neo-literates, individuals with rudimentary education, and school dropouts up to class 12th in the age range of 15-45 years. There is age relaxation for Divyangjan and other deserving cases, especially women. Priority groups include women, SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities in rural and urban low-income areas.
The scheme also benefits various social strata, with 75.86% from Below Poverty Line (BPL), 26.38% from SC, 13.54% from ST, 34.86% from OBC, and 10.02% from minority communities. Most beneficiaries are aged 15-25 (56.41%) with a rudimentary level of education (53.46%).
A core strength of the JSS Scheme lies in its community connection and the involvement of local administration, village functionaries, and other stakeholders. This ensures effective mobilization of infrastructure, resources, and beneficiaries, allowing them to pursue various job opportunities such as dress maker, beauty care assistant, hand embroider, driving assistant, Computer Operator and many more. Additionally, JSSs conduct activities to raise awareness on critical social, economic, health, financial literacy, and environmental issues.
The Zonal Conference served as a platform for sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and planning for the future. These conferences aim to enhance the implementation and reach of the JSS Scheme, ensuring it continues to empower the targeted communities effectively.
