Cabinet clears Rs 12,000 crore allocation for skills training

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an outlay of Rs 12,000 crore. The programme plans to impart skills to 1 crore people in the next one year.

“PMKVY will impart fresh training to 60 lakh youths and certify skills of 40 lakh persons acquired non-formally under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The target allocation between fresh trainings and RPL will be flexible and interchangeable depending on functional and operational requirements,” Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after Cabinet meeting.

Another decision made by the Cabinet was to extend numerous facilities to people from minority communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan staying in the country. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians staying on Long Term Visa (LTV) in India will be provided these facilities.

An official statement said that the facilities include allowing them to open bank accounts and permission to take self employment. They will also be given permission to purchase property for self-occupation, and to find suitable accommodation while carrying out self-employment.

Driving licence, PAN card, and Aadhar number will be given to them, and they will be allowed free movement within the state or Union territory where they are staying. After the program has been implemented, they will be allowed to transfer LTV papers from one State to another.  They will be excused from the penalty on non-extension of short term Visa /LTV on time.