Lok Sabha Question No. 2502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Empowerment of Minority Communities under PMKVY
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Bunty Vivek Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2502

ANSWERED ON -04/08/2025

## EMPOWERMENT OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES UNDER PMKVY

2502.  SHRI BUNTY VIVEK SAHU:

Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  ENTREPRENEURSHIP  be pleased to  state: -

- (a) the efforts being made in the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to empower minority communities through skill development and entrepreneurship;
- (b) the  manner  in  which  the  said  scheme  helps  women  belonging  to  minority community in the field of leadership and entrepreneurship initiatives;
- (c) the  role  of  the  Handicrafts  Export  Promotion  Council  play  in  availability  of market to the artisans under the said scheme; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  support  being  extended  by  the  Government  to  the  industry partners  to  ensure  better  employment  opportunities  to  persons  trained  under  the PMKVY?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- a)  & b)  Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing its  flagship  Scheme  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY)  since  2015. Under PMKVY, skill training is imparted through Short Term Training (STT) and Reskilling and Up-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to youth across the country.

The  Scheme  has  a  provision  of  Special  Projects  to  empower  minority  communities ensuring coverage of under-represented social groups - SC/ ST/ Women/ PwDs and geographic  areas  such  as  Aspirational  Districts,  LWE,  Tribal  districts,  etc.  Special attention has been given to women, tribal communities, and other marginalized groups in rural areas to promote their participation in the skill development programs. To  encourage  participation  of  women  including  women  belonging  to minority  communities  in  skill  development  programs,  special  provisions  have  been made  for  meeting  expenditure  on  conveyance  and  boarding  &  lodging  as  well  as enhanced  post  placement  support.  Further,  PMKVY  4.0  prioritizes  and  provides special focus to projects that emphasize women as primary beneficiaries. Projects are designed to align with local skill demands, creating opportunities for rural women to participate and benefit from skill development schemes.

- c) The  Export  Promotion  Council  for  Handicrafts  (EPCH),  which  is  also  the promoting body of the Handicrafts Sector Skill Council (HCSSC), plays a pivotal role in supporting artisans trained under PMKVY. EPCH works to enhance market access by facilitating  participation  of  artisans  in  domestic  and  international  trade  fairs,  buyer-

seller meets, and exhibitions.  It  supports  design  innovation,  product  diversification, and marketing strategies tailored to emerging market needs. This integration significantly  improves  the  post-training  livelihood  outcomes  for  beneficiaries  in  the handicraft and carpet sectors.

- d) The government has been taking several steps to ensure the implementation and expansion of PMKVY 4.0 across the country. These efforts aim to address skill gaps,  improve  employability,  and  support  economic  growth.  A  few  of  them  are  as under:
- i.  Focus on New Age Skills like Industry 4.0, Web 3.0, AR/VR, Climate Change, Circular Economy, Green Economy, and Energy Transition.
- ii.  Emphasis  on  Re-skilling,  and  Up-skilling  under  Recognition  of  Prior  Learning (RPL) through innovations in assessment, better monitoring.
- iii. Greater reliance  on On-Job-Training (OJT) for better practical  exposure to candidates.
- iv. Flexibility  in  course  curriculums  by  introducing  courses  in  partnership  with industry.
- v.  Cross  utilisation  of  available  infrastructure  with  the  educational  institutions  viz. ITIs/Schools/Colleges/Universities/Central and State Government Institutions etc.
- vi. Training  aligned  to  National  Priorities  and  Policy  Announcements  focusing  on clusters  in  sectors  like  semiconductor,  5G,  AI,  Green  Hydrogen,  EV,  Solar Mission, Care, Tourism.

The Ministry has also launched Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), a comprehensive  and accessible  platform  for  skill  enhancement, offering industry-relevant  skill  courses, job  opportunities,  and  entrepreneurship  support  to  youth  of  the  country  in  various sectors.

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