EMPLOYMENT AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMOUNG EDUCATED YOUTH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SAKSHAM YUVA SCHEME IN HARYANA

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate issue of unemployment among educated youth in India, a many- sided problem that stubbornly refuses to go despite India’s continuing economic growth. The problem is engrained in several interrelated factors, including poor employability, lack of proper skill- education, a scarcity of job opportunities and demographic pressures. Therefore, the Indian government has taken several steps to increase the quantum of skilled manpower which inter-alia includes skill development programmes and unemployment allowances schemes. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of these programmes. Therefore, after going through a few selected nationwide skill development schemes, the Saksham Yuva Scheme in the state of Haryana was chosen in order to study the efficacy of this scheme. In the present study, it was found that though the beneficiaries liked the overall scheme, yet they would like an additional amount should be paid to them as allowances and honorarium to tide over inflation under this scheme. Our study suggested that as a prerequisite for modern industry and government jobs in future in the technology driven world of 21^st century, the students should be trained in the subjects of reasoning ability, aptitude, soft skills, vocational training and technical education right from schools.