Punjab is still grappling with a high unemployment rate, and the placement rate of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) initiative remains disappointingly low. Only 39.11% of individuals who received training under PMKVY in the past five years were able to secure jobs. This statistic highlights the scheme’s underperformance, despite its aim to equip young people with skills that are relevant to the industry and improve their chances of finding meaningful employment.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provides skill enhancement, re-skilling, and up-skilling training through various schemes, including PMKVY, Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS). These initiatives are facilitated by industrial training institutes and cater to all segments of society within Punjab.
Out of the 244,575 unemployed youth trained under PMKVY between 2018-19 and 2022-23, only 95,667 were able to secure jobs. Over the past five years, a total of 8,276 individuals who underwent training found employment, with 7,549 in Amritsar, 5,826 in Mansa, 5,172 in Sangrur, 5,147 in Patiala, and 4,020 in Bathinda. During this period, the central government provided a grant of Rs 169.96 crore to the state. In addition to PMKVY, 158,805 youth received training in CTS, 36,386 in NAPS, and 13,513 in JSS.
The ministry clarified that placement is only tracked for the short-term training component of PMKVY. For other schemes, independent evaluation reports from third parties have shown positive results in terms of successful placements or increased income levels for trainees. Regarding the employment status of beneficiaries under the JSS scheme, third-party evaluation reports have observed a tangible impact resulting from the training programs. This impact is evident in the form of increased instances of self-employment, wage employment, and private job opportunities for those who have participated in the training.
The recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (January-March 2023) reported an unemployment rate of 9.2% in Punjab. This is the highest recorded rate since the third quarter of 2020, a period marked by economic restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.