Skill Development Allowance Scheme
Category: Skills & Employment, Social welfare & Empowerment
Level: State | State: Himachal Pradesh

Details:
The Department of Labour &amp; Employment, Government of Himachal Pradesh introduced a scheme named &quot;**Skill Development Allowance Scheme**&quot; also known by the name of “The Himachal Pradesh Payment of Skill Development Allowance to Educated Unemployed Persons Scheme, 2013&quot; with the aim of granting Skill Development Allowance to the unemployed youth aims at providing allowance to educated unemployed persons for their Skill upgradation. 
**Objective:**

  - This scheme intends to provide allowance to eligible educated unemployed Himachali youth for

their skill upgradation.

  - This in turn will enable such youth to develop their skill which in turn will enable them to take up

employment or self-employment in the Sector of their choice, since this scheme empowers the youth
to choose the Sector in which they would like to develop their skill, at the training institute of their
choice.
**Key features of this scheme:**

   1. **Financial Assistance:** The scheme provides financial allowances to eligible candidates, covering expenses such as tuition fees, study materials, transportation, and living costs during the training period. This financial support reduces the financial burden on individuals and encourages them to pursue skill development programs.   1. **Enhanced Employability:** By promoting skill development aligned with industry requirements, the scheme equips participants with relevant skills and knowledge. This increases their employability prospects, making them well-prepared to meet the demands of the job market and secure gainful employment.   1. **Access to Quality Training:** The scheme facilitates access to reputable training institutions and programs, ensuring that participants receive high-quality training. This exposure to quality education and skill-building opportunities enhances the overall learning experience and improves the effectiveness of the training received.   1. **Sector-specific Skill Development:** The scheme focuses on various sectors such as healthcare, tourism, agriculture, IT, and manufacturing, recognizing the specific needs and demands of different industries. By targeting sector-specific skill development, the scheme aligns the training with the current and future workforce requirements, increasing the chances of participants finding suitable employment.   1. **Economic Growth and Development:** By nurturing a skilled workforce, the scheme contributes to the economic growth and development of Himachal Pradesh. The availability of skilled individuals attracts investments, encourages entrepreneurship, and leads to the creation of more job opportunities within the state, ultimately bolstering the overall economic prosperity of the region.

Benefits:
Allowance shall be payable to each educated unemployed applicant for a maximum period of two years; subject to fulfilling eligibility criteria & timely submission of attested copies of 8th/matriculation marks sheet/certificate to ascertain age and educational qualification and Affidavit as per form ‘C’, at the following rates:
1. 
For Physically Challenged person
 who have minimum 50% permanent disability recorded in her/his
Employment Exchange record (X-I), @ ₹1,500/- per month.
2. 
For all other categories of Persons
 :- ₹1000/- (Rs. One Thousand) per month. 
Note:
The Allowance shall be credited to the recipient by RTGS/NEFT/ECS through Banks as mentioned in
Application Form, on monthly basis at the cost of the Government. 
This would be on bank accounts which are verified by Aadhaar number by the bank.

Eligibility Criteria:
Subject to the provisions of this Scheme, all educated unemployed applicants shall be eligible for the
grant of Skill Development Allowance, who fulfill the following criteria:

   1. She/He should be unemployed (i.e. neither employed in Govt. sector nor in private sector nor self employed) and should be a Bonafide Himachali.
   1. She/He should have passed minimum 8th from any Board/University/Institution recognized by H.P Govt. There will be no requirement of minimum qualification for admissibility of allowance under the Scheme when applicant wants to pursue training in Sectors such as masonry, carpentry, blacksmithy or plumbing etc.
   1. She/He should be registered with any Employment Exchange in Himachal Pradesh as on the date of application.
   1. Her/His annual family income for the Financial Year immediately preceding date of application, from all sources including that of spouse should be less than Rs. 2.00 Lakh (Rs. Two Lakhs).
   1. She/He should be above 16years and below 36 years of age and in case of widow less than 45 years of age as on the date of application.
   1. She/He should not be self-employed.
   1. The employment under MGNREGA will not be counted as employment.
   1. She/He should not be a dismissed Govt. employee.
   1. She/He should not be convicted of any offence resulting in imprisonment for a period of 48 hours or more.
   1. She/he should be enrolled in a skill development training.