Officials highlight Uttar Pradesh’s skill development model as an effective national benchmark
Agra/Lucknow, 08 May (H.S.): The two-day DDU-GKY 2.0 workshop organised by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission concluded successfully in Agra on Friday, with representatives from Uttar Pradesh and eight other states participating in detailed discussions on achievements, challenges, innovations, and future action plans under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY).
On the concluding day, presentations were delivered by representatives from Sikkim, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, showcasing their respective models and experiences under the scheme.
Chairing the workshop, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development (Skills), Pankaj Yadav stated that the objective of DDU-GKY and RSETI schemes extends beyond training and focuses on strengthening the livelihoods of rural youth by linking them with employment and self-employment opportunities.
He stressed that states must now demonstrate concrete outcomes through effective implementation.
“Success will come only through identifying the right trades, strong monitoring, and better mobilisation,” Yadav said while appreciating the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission for its innovations and effective workshop arrangements.
He added that with the implementation of DDU-GKY 2.0 and RSETI Phase 2, states would need to work with greater speed and accountability. He emphasised the importance of selecting suitable training partners, conducting continuous monitoring, and making greater use of IT tools, portals, and mobile applications for reviewing training institutes and ensuring timely corrective action.
Yadav also advised states to conduct regular Project Sanctioning Committee (PSC) meetings and adopt “circulation mode” decisions whenever necessary to expedite approvals and implementation.
He particularly praised Uttar Pradesh for its “Kaushaldeep” coffee table book, success stories, and rural outreach innovations, suggesting that other states should replicate similar awareness campaigns.
Mission Director Pulkit Khare presented Uttar Pradesh’s skill development model, highlighting industry demand-driven training, digital monitoring systems, and employment linkage as the core pillars of the state’s strategy.
He noted that digital tools like the “Skill Drishti” app have ensured real-time monitoring and transparency at training centres across the state.
Khare revealed that approximately 2.62 lakh youth were trained under DDU-GKY 1.0 in Uttar Pradesh, out of which nearly 2 lakh youth were successfully linked to employment opportunities.
He added that the mission’s focus is not merely on increasing enrollment but on connecting youth with sustainable and dignified livelihoods.
Special emphasis has also been placed on increasing the participation of persons with disabilities. According to officials, enrollment of differently-abled candidates under DDU-GKY increased from just 0.1 percent in Phase 1 to 2 percent in Phase 2, with a target to raise it further to 5 percent.
Officials also highlighted the increasing participation of women under the scheme, noting that placement rates for female trainees have surpassed those of men in the top five job trades.
Giving a technical presentation, DDU-GKY COO Ashish Kumar said that nearly 44,000 new training targets are expected to be awarded in May, along with the addition of new training partners.
He added that the mission is strengthening operations at the block level through the appointment of Block Programme Managers (BPMs), digital inspection systems, tablet-based monitoring, and faster resolution of pending cases.
At the conclusion of the workshop, officials described DDU-GKY 2.0 as not merely a skill training programme but a comprehensive movement aimed at empowering youth through self-reliance and dignified employment.
The Uttar Pradesh model received appreciation at the national level, with representatives from multiple states describing it as an effective framework for skill development and rural employment generation.
(With inputs from H.S.) Inputs & Images courtesy: Hindusthan Samachar (H.S.)
Edited by: Dikshita Bollu
Last Updated on: Saturday, May 9, 2026 12:06 am by Bollu Dikshitha | Published by: Bollu Dikshitha on Saturday, May 9, 2026 12:06 am | News Categories: India
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