The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) recently celebrated the foundation day of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), a program aimed at transforming lives through skills, on September 25th. This event coincided with Antyodaya Diwas, also celebrated on the same day. The occasion was marked by several inaugural events and the release of new and updated guidelines for several key components of DDU-GKY.
Agripreneurship Programme
The MoRD inaugurated the Agripreneurship Program as part of the DDU-GKY celebrations. This initiative focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture practices and direct marketing within the community. Agripreneurship refers to a farming approach that concentrates on the interrelationships of social, economic, and environmental processes. This holistic, systems-oriented strategy is designed to foster sustainability in agriculture.
Captive Employment and DDU-GKY
Furthering DDU-GKY’s objectives, the MoRD released guidelines on Captive Employment. These guidelines target businesses capable of employing over 500 individuals either within their organization or within one of their subsidiaries. The requirement includes having suitable in-house training facilities. These guidelines are directed at stimulating job creation within the community.
Integrated Farming Cluster
The MoRD also issued guidelines for the promotion of Integrated Farming Clusters (IFCs). IFCs represent a combined approach oriented towards efficient resource management for increased productivity in cropping systems. The principle behind IFCs is to ensure sustainability, food security, farmer’s security, and poverty reduction. This is accomplished by incorporating various elements like livestock, vermicomposting, and organic farming.
Capacity Building in Rural Areas
Another highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for capacity building of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and StartUps. The MoU is aimed at providing incubation support in rural areas to bolster local enterprises.
About DDU-GKY
The DDU-GKY was announced by the MoRD on Antyodaya Diwas in 2014. It operates under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and is a demand-driven placement linked skill training initiative. Its objective is to use skill training and placement in wage employment as tools for diversifying income and enabling sustained upward mobility out of poverty. The program specifically targets rural youth, aged between 15 and 35, from poor families.
DDU-GKY’s Achievements
The DDU-GKY has made notable strides since its inception. Approximately 10.51 lakh rural youths have received training under the program, and around 6.65 lakh have successfully found placement. These figures highlight the need for all stakeholders to bring more rural youths, who are interested in becoming independent and effecting positive change in society, under DDU-GKY’s purview.
The Role of DDU-GKY in India’s Rural Development
The significance of DDU-GKY and integrated farming initiatives cannot be overstated in the context of rural development across India. It holds immense potential in skilling and placing rural youth, thereby contributing to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission.
Antyodaya Diwas
Antyodaya Diwas is observed every year on September 25 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The day, meaning “uplifting the poorest of the poor,” aims to reach out to the individual at the last rung of the ladder. The Government of India first announced it in 2014, coinciding with the introduction of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.
