Introduction:
Not too long ago, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) revealed a new pilot project. The initiative aims at training roughly 2,500 street food vendors in Delhi. This falls under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) section of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 3.0 scheme. The implementation will be done by the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council (THSSC) and NSDC’s (National Skill Development Corporation) training associates.
Training Procedure
The registered food vendors will partake in four to five days of counseling sessions, where they would understand their competencies, aptitude, interests, and structure of the itinerary. The vendors will garner knowledge on safety standards, COVID-19 safety protocols, effective communication techniques with staff and customers. More importantly, they will also learn about new-age skills such as digital and financial literacy, digital payments, and e-selling.
Benefits and Support for Vendors
Upon completion of the training, vendors have the opportunity to get support in obtaining loans under the Mudra Scheme. This assistance will also potentially make eligible vendors qualified for e-cart licenses. Furthermore, it will allow vendors to improve hygiene conditions during food preparation and enhance aesthetics of vending. For attending this training, each vendor will be given Rs 500 per day for the 4-day training period.
Purpose of the Project
The fundamental goal is to equip street food vendors with relevant skills which can lead to superior service for consumers, opportunities for revenue generation, and create awareness on civic regulations.
Impact on Economy and Society
In India, there is an estimated count of 5.5 million street food vendors who contribute up to 14% of the informal economy. This makes their upskilling crucial for the economy. It is expected that this initiative will help enhance the working and living conditions of the workforce, providing social security and safety to approximately 4,000 vendors in east Delhi and 25 lakh street vendors at a national level.
Other Schemes for Food Vendors
The government has also introduced other schemes catering to food vendors. These include the PM SVANidhi Scheme, Main Bhi Digital (me too digital), The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.
About PMKVY
Launched in 2015 under Skill India Mission, PMKVY aims to train more than 40 crore people in various skills by 2022. Its core objective is vocational training and certification of Indian youth for better livelihood opportunities and respect in society.
RPL Programme
Implemented by the NSDC, the RPL Program promotes decentralization and local governance for better planning and implementation of skill development programs. The program acknowledges the value of learning acquired outside a formal environment and provides government certification for an individual’s skills.
Last Modified: February 13, 2024