Towards Self-Employment
The Modi government has devised a structured approach for addressing the skill gap in rural India through multiple stakeholders in the skill development ecosystem
The Government of India is fostering an environment for conducive rural entrepreneurship considering factors like access to finance, infrastructure and market opportunities.
Some of the initiatives are:
(i) For marketing of products produced by the women self-help groups (SHGs) promoted under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY NRLM), the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in collaboration with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has created the “SARAS Collection” as a Store Front in GeM for marketing products. MoRD has also entered into a Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with different online platforms namely Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Amazon, Patanjali and Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Meesho) for onboarding and marketing of SHG products. An e-commerce platform (www.esaras.in) and e-commerce application have also been launched by MoRD for online marketing of SHG products. Further, some States have also developed their own e-commerce platforms to support the marketing of products of SHGs. In addition, marketing of SHG products is also being carried out through stores and SARAS Fairs held at National and State levels.
(ii) With a view to create livelihood options for rural entrepreneurs of SHGs, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has been promoting Micro Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (MEDPs), Livelihood & Enterprise Development Programme (LEDPs) in which financial support and skill development form an important component.
(iii) A scheme for grant support to SHGs/ Joint Liability Group (JLGs) / Producer Organizations (POs) / Micro-entrepreneurs for training, on-boarding, and marketing of products on online / digital marketplaces on E-commerce, social media platforms and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) was introduced in June 2023 by NABARD to support SHGs / JLGs / POs to market their products on online platforms and enhance their income.
(iv) Off Farm Producer Organizations (OFPOs) are being facilitated for on-boarding onto ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), which is an initiative aimed at promoting open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks.
As many as 591 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) are functioning across the country, extending skill and entrepreneurship development training programmes to rural unemployed youth to facilitate them to employ themselves by commencing self-employment units / activities. MoRD is reimbursing cost of training imparted by the RSETIs to the rural youth through the State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs).
In addition, NABARD also implements ‘Skill Development Programmes’, a structured approach for addressing the skill gap in rural India through multiple stakeholders in the skill development ecosystem, according to the Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.
The interventions aim to provide wide range of skill development training to rural youth with job opportunities. This is aimed to improve income level and livelihoods and to contribute to the economy by setting up rural enterprises. On-location skill development training programmes are provided to bridge the skill deficits or facilitate the optimization of production activities already pursued by the SHG members under MEDP. Also, grant support for skill upgradation programmes, establishment of demonstration units and need-based critical infrastructure is provided under LEDP.
