10000 female trainees get Nirbhaya kits, 2200 Divyangjans trained & employed under SANKALP

Lucknow : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed unprecedented progress in youth skill development and employment generation over the past eight years. The Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) programme has played a pivotal role in empowering the youth and connecting them with meaningful employment opportunities.

Supported financially by the Government of India and the World Bank, this initiative has modernized and expanded skill training, ensuring inclusivity and bringing marginalized communities into the mainstream.

Aligned with the Yogi government’s commitment to policy of service, the SANKALP Project has positioned Uttar Pradesh as a frontrunner in skill development, marking a significant milestone in empowering youth toward self-reliance.

The project has equipped young individuals with employable skills and promoted social inclusion by empowering underprivileged sections of society. With a strong emphasis on digital education, integration with formal learning, and the adoption of modern technology, the initiative has strengthened Uttar Pradesh’s position as a leader in skill development.

To enhance the state’s skill ecosystem and create sustainable employment avenues, a Rs 74.48 crore project was approved by the Government of India in 2019-20 under the SANKALP project.

This led to several innovative and institutional interventions, including formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs), skill training programs tailored to local employment needs, and organising skill competitions and job fairs. For the first time, DSDPs were prepared through the District Skills Committee, chaired by the District Magistrate, ensuring a structured approach to skill development.

In 2021-22, target allocations were made based on DSDP recommendations, making skill training more practical and regionally relevant, strengthening local participation, and ensuring a workforce ready for emerging job markets.

SANKALP has played a crucial role in fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing skill development among youth in Uttar Pradesh. Through the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, orientation programs were conducted to promote self-employment. As a result, 1,475 young entrepreneurs and aspiring youth in Gorakhpur district benefited from these initiatives.

To further advance the concept of self-reliance, 660 women from Scheduled Castes and Tribes received specialized training in the media and entertainment sector under the RDT model. These initiatives encouraged self-employment and brought new hope to women from marginalized communities by empowering them financially.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded this effort as a significant step toward youth empowerment, emphasizing that the goal is to secure jobs for the youth and transform them into job creators.

The Yogi government has also made significant strides in integrating digital and formal education with skill training under the SANKALP project. Digital versions of NCVET-approved courses were made accessible via the Learning Management System (LMS) portal to provide free skill training anytime, anywhere.

Aligning with the National Education Policy 2020, Project Praveen was launched, benefiting 63,000 students in government secondary schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, equipping them with essential skills alongside their regular education.

Additionally, engineering colleges were engaged as training providers, leveraging their infrastructure and faculty to ensure high-quality skill training.

The SANKALP project has placed special focus on empowering neglected and marginalized communities. Skill training was provided to 2,958 individuals, including women from protection homes, juveniles from reform homes, and prison inmates, enabling them to earn a livelihood.

Special training programs for Divyangjans resulted in 2,200 differently-abled individuals gaining employment-oriented skills. Furthermore, self-defence training and Nirbhaya kits were distributed to 10,000 female trainees, ensuring their safety and confidence.

To help youth make informed career choices, career counselling agencies provided guidance to 1,00,000 trainees, in addition to linking them with job opportunities matching their skills and interests. These efforts have greatly empowered marginalized communities, bringing them into the mainstream workforce.

To prepare youth for emerging technologies, 100 students, 50 State ITI instructors, and 50 science teachers were trained in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Advanced Computing at IIT Mandi (Himachal Pradesh).

Under the Uttar Pradesh IT-ITES Policy 2022, guidelines were formulated to collaborate with industrial establishments as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) partners, addressing the growing demand for IT-skilled professionals.

These strategic measures have strengthened Uttar Pradesh’s skill ecosystem, equipping youth with cutting-edge knowledge and preparing them for future challenges in the evolving job market.