Lok Sabha Question No. 4338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Seekho Aur Kamao Scheme
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4338

ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## SEEKHO AUR KAMAO SCHEME

## 4338.  MS. KANGANA RANAUT

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- a) the total number of youth trained under the Seekho Aur Kamao scheme during the last five years along with their employment status post-training;
- b) whether the Government has conducted any impact assessment of the scheme to determine its effectiveness in improving employability and income levels of minority youth and if so, the details and key findings thereof;
- c) whether any partnerships with private sector industries and MSMEs have been established to enhance job placements for trained candidates and if so, the details thereof; and
- d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  expand  the  geographical  reach  and industry-specific skill training under the scheme, particularly in aspirational districts?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  Seekho  aur  Kamao  (SAK)  scheme,  started  in  2013-14,  targeted  to  upgrade  the  skills  of minority  youth  (14-45  years)  in  various  modern/  traditional  skills  depending  upon  their qualification,  prevailing  economic  trends,  and  market  potential,  that  could  earn  them  suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to take up self-employment. Under the scheme, last target allocation was madein 2020-21, whereby a target of 22,672 beneficiaries wereallocatedand out  of  them  7,920  were  placed,  as  per  updation  by  project  implementing  agencies  on  scheme portal.  The  scheme,thereafter,  has  been  subsumed  under  a  new  integrated  scheme  Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS).

(b)The Ministry conducted impact evaluation study of the scheme to improve policy implementation  in  2020  by  Management  Development  Institute  (MDI,  Gurugram.  Following were the key findings of the report:

- i. Majority (80%) of the respondents were satisfied or neutral with the rise in income after the training programme.
- ii. 97% of the trained beneficiaries received skill certificates.
- iii. 79% of the trainees got placements after completion of training.
- iv. More than 3/4 th of the respondents reported an improvement in skill sets after undergoing training in the scheme.
- v. 89% of the respondents reported a high satisfaction with the improvement in the family living standard.
- vi. 78%  of  the  respondents  agreed  on  receiving  post-placement  support  from  the  Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
- vii. Majority beneficiaries (97%) were reported as satisfied with the teaching methodology adopted by the trainers.
- viii. 80% of the beneficiaries found all the facilities associated with building infrastructure as suitable.

(c) Under the scheme, the implementing partners are to ensure placement of 75 per cent of total candidates trained through their linkages with the industries.

(d)  The  Ministry  has  launched  an  integrated  scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Virasat  Ka  Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) convergingfive erstwhile schemes of the Ministry namely 'Seekho Aur Kamao', 'Nai  Manzil',  'USTTAD',  'Nai  Roshni',  and  Hamari  Dharohar  for  the  six  notified  minority communities.The  Scheme  focuses  on  upliftment  of  minorities  through  skill  development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts. This is a central sector scheme which would be implemented at pan India basis.

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