The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with Meta (previously known as Facebook), has recently rolled out the second instalment of the GOAL Programme, termed GOAL 2.0.
Understand the GOAL Programme
The Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) was first introduced as a pilot project in May 2020 and completed its first cycle in December 2021. Its main objective was to foster digital empowerment among tribal youth and women by connecting mentees with mentors. The project is fully financed by Meta (Facebook India), and it focused on training participants in three primary areas: Communication & Life Skills, Digital Presence Enablement, and Leadership & Entrepreneurship.
Exploring the GOAL 2.0 Program
The Goal 2 program extends its reach to all individuals belonging to tribal communities. During Phase-I, online mentoring was furnished with one mentor for every two mentees. The new program aims to refine the skills of tribal youth and stimulate digital engagement through Facebook live sessions and the Meta Business Coach, a digital learning tool.
There will be specific emphasis on more than 10 lakh members of 50000 Vandhan Self Help Groups, training them digitally in accordance with market demand, packaging, branding, and marketing their products.
Benefitting from the provision of a Chatbot, need-based online sessions from industry experts in different fields, Goal 2 seeks maximum youth participation and ensures that the training benefits penetrate deep within the tribal community.
Involvement of Various Agencies
The execution of the program requires the concerted effort of multiple agencies. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in unison with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, plans to provide six digital classes in each of the 175 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) chosen for the initiative.
The Education and Research Network, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY), is in charge of implementing the project.
Other Skill Enhancement Initiatives
Several other schemes specifically target skill development in India. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is one such scheme administered by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) under the Skill India Mission. PMKVY 3.0 also concentrates on skilling on digital technology and Industry 4.0.
Additionally, the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) have designed job roles centered on new and emerging digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The eSkill India Portal, launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the auspices of the MSDE, offers online skilling opportunities. This platform provides learning materials on emerging technologies and professional skills.
Lastly, ‘Samagra Shiksha’ forms part of the Vocational Education component and offers National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant vocational courses to school students, including tribal students, from class 9th to 12th.
