Successful implementation of Special Projects under PMKVY 2.0

Our guest author Bhavna Chopra Srikrishna needs no introduction to many in the skill space in India. She was a core team member of NSDC and has contributed to several national projects from 2009 till April 2016. She has just begun her journey as a consultant and is happy to contribute to NSN through her first series on PMKVY 2.0. We welcome her aboard to continue our journey by sharing the positive and progressive impact of skill development initiatives in India. Scroll down to know more about her.

This is the third and last article in the 3-part series on simplifying PMKVY 2.0 for training partners. Here is the link to read the first article on 4 Essentials of implementing short term training under PMKVY 2.0. And, this is the link to the second article on Successful implementation of RPL under PMKVY 2.0.

Congratulations, dear reader, on India’s 70^th Independence day! Congratulations, dear training partner, for the inclusion of the 3^rd category ‘Special projects’ as a part of the PMKVY 2.0. You may wonder as to why I am congratulating you since ostensibly, there seems to be a minuscule role for the training partner in the 3^rd section of the PMKVY and the section aims mainly at Government bodies, corporates/ industry bodies or for those job roles where QP/ NOS don’t exist yet. And right there; the PMKVY ‘Special Projects’ gives you the freedom and the opportunity to shape and execute a project.

The framework for the Special projects section remains the same as for the other 2 sections. Common Norms, Skill Development Management Systems (SDMS), Mobilisation to placement/ outcome driven projects. The candidates will need to have a valid Aadhar and bank account. The rest is upto the PIA or the Project Implementation Agency.

The next few paragraphs outline possible projects that can be attempted under this section and how you could conceptualize these.

 What can be done

• In the past, many training partners, have articulated skilling opportunities where placement opportunities exist but the current QP NOS framework has not yet developed to this level. For eg Office Boys for Corporates, Entry levels assistants for executives of large corporates, multi skilled mechanics for MSMEs. The Special projects allow you to position this need uniquely. While the QP NOS may cover some of the opportunities, those may be disparate skills and could possibly may entail multiple assessments and long skilling cycle. So it makes sense to create a single strong curriculum to support these needs through a single integrated intervention.
• Skilling opportunities unique to a region and/ or sector. For eg Developing unique entrepreneurial skills for young people in traditional clusters, working in Naxalite areas or even difficult terrains.
• National Mission alignment- the Skill India movement is a mission but so is the Smart City, Swachch Bharat, Digital India, Make in India. Can you design a project around these missions? Work with the local authorities at the district level and you could even have a beautiful district level skilling intervention ready. You will need to work with the DM to create an aspirational skilling plan for the district that could be a combination of skills depending on the development plan for the district.
• Project based approaches – like developing appropriate skills for an Infrastructure project like Industrial Corridors, Food parks etc.

The above are indicative but the possibilities are endless.

How can it be done

In such cases, you will need to identify and shape the need for the Project Implementing Agency. Some of the TPs have great contacts with State Governments, others with Corporates and still others are deep rooted in clusters and are well networked with local level associations’. Leverage those relationships; form strategic partnerships and define the outlines and the outcomes of the project. Agree on the roles and responsibilities. Do remember, that your partners will be the PIA ( Project Implementation Agency) for the particular project which would entail that they will need to take responsibility and liability for the project.

Where can it be done

In my opinion, the Special Project lends itself best to a particular geography with a clear aligned outcome. The geography itself may be defined by jurisdiction boundaries, habitat or even presence of a particular industry or traditional cluster. The PMKVY guidelines allow for the possibility of a non-accredited centre but the PIA must have a strong reason for not doing so and must have equally strong infrastructure to execute those projects.

When can it be done

This is the first time this category as been introduced into the PMKVY. You have the opportunity to try out pilots so that those can then be developed into full-fledged projects going into Year 2 and 3.

Why must you do this?

The special projects, if used strategically, allows you the space to create a niche and presence for yourself in a geography or with a set of stakeholders. There is room for flexibility here which you could use to shape a project from scratch. It also allows you to create long term strategic relationships with the stakeholders you will work with.

About the author: Bhavna Chopra Srikrishna may not need any introduction for many players in the skill development ecosystem in India. She was a core team and ‘original’ member of the NSDC team from 2009 to April 2016. She has recently established her independent Consulting Practice and continues to be passionate about skilling and contributing to the nation. She is delighted to be a part of the National Skills Network – NSN. Bhavna has about 18 years of experience spanning Exports at Maruti, Leadership Training and Development across industries. She handled a variety of roles at NSDC including Investing & Incentivizing i.e. Proposal Evaluation, World Skills, Udaan and the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). She enjoys fitness along with her family and runs, cycles and does yoga.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be taken for NSN’s expertise or advice. Bhavna can be reached at bhavnasrikrishna@gmail.com.