The Indian Central Government is actively working on a project targeting 10 to 12.5 million families. The prime aim is to alleviate poverty through the efficient implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This task will be achieved by enhancing skills and generating resilient assets.
Livelihoods in Full Employment (LIFE) Project
Under the aegis of MGNREGA, the Livelihoods in Full Employment (LIFE) project was initiated in 2015-16. The LIFE project offers training to eligible workers within the age bracket of 15-35 years. However, it limits its provisions to only those MGNREGA workers who have completed 100 days’ work. A mid-term review brought forth several complaints from various states about slow progress and the absence of stipends for compensation against wages lost during skilling sessions. There were also grievances regarding the age criterion imposing limitations on candidates’ eligibility for skill development.
New Initiative Features
With an annual budget of INR 500 to 1,000 crores, the proposed initiative aims to extend benefits beyond those completing 100 days of work under MGNREGA. Every year, one member from 400,000 to 500,000 families will receive 30 to 45 days of training under this scheme. Stipends will be granted to offset any wage loss resulting from these training sessions. Skill development initiatives such as the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), bank-run self-employment programs, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), will be used to conduct training within the 100 days mandated by MGNREGA.
Training with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
Trainees will be connected to Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), where they will receive education in grafting, horticulture, cultivation of fruit-bearing crops, and other related subjects. KVKs are integral to the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) that allows location-specific technology modules assessment in agriculture and allied enterprises through technology assessment, refinement, and demonstrations.
Important Facts
| Project LIFE-MGNREGA established in: | April 2015 |
|---|---|
| Main aim: | Promote self-reliance and skill improvement among MGNREGA workers |
| DDU-GKY announced on: | 25th September 2014 |
| Target group for DDU-GKY: | Rural youth (15-35 years old) from poor families |
| First KVK established in: | 1974 at Puducherry |
| KVK financing: | 100% by the Government of India |
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
The Ministry of Rural Development launched the DDU-GKY on Antyodaya Diwas, the 25th of September 2014. The demand-driven placement-linked skill training initiative operates under the NRLM. Capitalizing on skill training and placement in wage employment, DDU-GKY aims to diversify income sources and facilitate a sustained ascension out of poverty. The initiative primarily targets rural youth aged between 15 and 35 years from impoverished families.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
Established in 1974, the first KVK in Puducherry has since been an essential part of NARS. KVKs work as Knowledge and Resource Centres for agricultural technology, supporting public, private, and voluntary sectors’ initiatives to enhance the agrarian economy of a district. Besides linking NARS with the extension system and farmers, KVKs are 100% financed by the Indian Government and have been granted to Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, relevant Government Departments, and Non-Government Organisations (NGO) working in agriculture.
