Lok Sabha Question No. 441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: JSS Functioning in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri Navaskani K, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 441

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## JSS FUNCTIONING IN TAMIL NADU

## 441.   SHRI SELVAM G:

SHRI NAVASKANI K:

SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

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

- a. whether  the  Government  is  implementing  the  Jan  ShikshanSansthan  (JSS)  scheme  as an effective instrument for adult education and skill development;
- b. if so, the present scope, coverage and outcomes of the scheme at the national level;
- c. the details of the number of JSS centres currently functioning in Tamil Nadu, their district-wise distribution, enrolment levels and capacity utilisation and whether any districts remain uncovered;
- d. the steps taken by the Government to strengthen placement linkages, promote women entrepreneurship,  modernise  course  curricula  and  align  training  with  local  industry  needs and self-employment opportunities in the State; and
- e. whether  any  independent  impact  assessment  has  been  undertaken  by  the  Government to evaluate  employability  outcomes,  sustainability  and  relevance  of  JSS  centres  in  rural  and  semiurban areas of Tamil Nadu and if so, the findings and corrective measures proposed thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (d) The Jan ShikshanSansthan (JSS) Scheme aims to provide skill training in a non-formal mode at  the  doorsteps  of  the  beneficiary.   The  target  beneficiaries  of  the  scheme  are  persons  having rudimentary level of education, school dropouts up to class 12th in the age group of 15-45 years. Age relaxation is given to Divyangjan and other deserving cases, especially women. The priority groups are women, SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities in the rural areas and urban low-income areas.

At  present,  there  are  294  functional  JSSs  across  26  states  and  7  UTs.  Since  the  transfer  of  the Scheme from Ministry of Education (Erstwhile MoHRD) to MSDE i.e. July, 2018 to December, 2025, a total of 34.14 lakh beneficiaries have been trained under the Scheme, out of which 83% beneficiaries are women, making it an effective instrument for adult education and skill development.

There are livelihood cells in the JSSs which assist in forming linkages of the trained JSS beneficiaries especially  women beneficiaries,  with  the  Self-Help  Groups  (SHGs)  /  Joint  Liability  Groups  (JLGs)  to promote their entrepreneurship and livelihood. The Livelihood Cell also links them with the appropriate

National  /  State  portal  for  the  promotion  of  livelihood  opportunities,  provides  counselling  support  to beneficiaries for enabling them to take up self/wage employment in related trades as per the market need and acts as a bridge between employers, banks/micro-finance  institutions/State  Governments/ NABARD  for  delivering  the  benefit  of  schemes  of  financial  assistance/loans  to  JSS  beneficiaries, especially women.

There are 9 functional JSSs in the state of Tamil Nadu, whose details are  given as under :

| Sl. No.   | JSS Centers     | Training Details   |
|-----------|-----------------|--------------------|
| 1         | Chennai*        | 2,796              |
| 2         | Kanchipuram     | 11,941             |
| 3         | Madurai         | 11,374             |
| 4         | Nagapattinam    | 12,291             |
| 5         | Namakkal        | 13,117             |
| 6         | Sivaganga       | 12,274             |
| 7         | Thiruvarur      | 13,273             |
| 8         | Tiruchirappalli | 11,879             |
| 9         | Virudhunagar    | 11,956             |
| Total     | Total           | 1,00,901           |

Since  July,  2018  to  December,  2025,  a  total  of  1,00,901  beneficiaries  have  been  trained  under  the Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu.

- (e)         A  Third-  Party evaluation of JSS Scheme was conducted by ArunJaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM), Faridabad in 2025, in all concerned states including Tamil Nadu. For the overall scheme, the main findings and key recommendations were as under:
- (i)          Key findings / achievements:
- 33.94 lakh individuals enrolled; 32 lakh trained; 31.52 lakh certified with 99% success rate.
- National average (FY 2021 -25): 94.3% trained and 98.5% certified.
- Women formed 82% of total participants.
- 73% of learners were from marginalized groups (SC/ST: 36%, OBC: 37%).
- Most learners (66.8%) were aged 19 -35 years.
- 55% had education up to 10th standard.
- 90% alumni used training for livelihood; 82% engaged within six months.
- 60% of previously non-earning individuals started earning due to the scheme.
- Average income rose fourfold from ₹1,776 to ₹8,440 per month
- (ii)        Key recommendations:
- To increase the Budgetary provision to the JSSs under the scheme for reasonable infrastructure in-field training centres for quality training and branding
- To include and cover all the remaining districts in the country.
- Grant-in-Aid Enhancement: To meet the minimum standards for NSQF compliance.
- Augmentation of infrastructure, material and equipment at JSS and training centre levels to bring about quality change in the programme and activities.

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