Making disadvantaged youth employable, courtesy Delhi police
Delhi police is using skill building and employment to cut down the National Capital's notoriously high crime rate. Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana's skill development program Yuva, they are providing vocational training to disadvantaged youth to help them start a new life. Over 2,260 youths, mostly petty thieves, college dropouts, drug addicts, and families of convicts are currently enrolled in the initiative.
What is Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)?
Launched in 2015, PMKVY aims to impart industry-relevant skills to 10 million youths by 2020, with the help of private accredited trainers. Though it lists 219 courses across 34 sectors, in Delhi, three are most popular — beauty/wellness, garment/jewelry and handicrafts among women, and electronics/hardware among men. NGOs teach as per demand, supply, and available infrastructure. The Centre meets all the expenses of training.
Yuva has helped 250 youths get employment so far
Yuva in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) started on August 29, 2017. Skill development centres have been opened at eight police stations across Delhi for now but will soon spread to 32 stations, aiming to train 2,700 youths between ages 16-25 years. So far, 250 youths have found work at companies such as Cafe Coffee Day, Vodafone and Fortis Hospital.
One initiative, double benefits
In making the youth employable, Delhi police hopes to cut down the city's high recidivism rate (tendency to resume criminal activities). The skill development program is also an attempt by the police to rebuild their public image, gain trust and favorable opinion of people.
