Convergence for Scaling in Rajasthan

Background

Rajasthan Mission on Livelihoods (RMoL), set up to promote livelihoods in 2004, considered skill development as one of the significant means to enhance livelihoods as just 2-3% of the population in the state was formally trained as against 5% at all-India level.

To promote livelihoods through skill training, the State Government established Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSL-DC) in 2012-13 as an executing body under RMoL and launched Employment Linked Skill Training Programme (El-STP) with 100% State share. The main objective of the programme was to impart skill training under a common platform to all interested and eligible youth and also to the specific target groups of the Departments participating in skill training through convergence mechanism. The key stakeholders are Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Central Government Departments, RSL-DC, State Departments etc.

Intervention

The convergence of all programs in terms of funds, course curriculum, inspection and supervision mechanisms was initiated in November 2014 through an order of Department of Planning. The order also stipulated roles and responsibilities of RSLDC and client departments. Departments such as Local Self Government, Labour, Forest, Tribal Area Development, Women Empowerment Rajasthan Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation Ltd. (SCDC) and Rajasthan Gramin Aajeevika Vikas Parishad, Rural development etc. transferred their funds partly or fully for imparting training to particular category of youth based on their scheme.

How it works?

a. Selection of Training Partner

RSLDC issues Expression of Interest (EOI) for inviting proposals from interested corporate agencies and others working in the field of skill development. Proposals are screened against laid down parameters. Selected training agencies sign MOU with RSLDC along with action plan. While signing MoU, selected agencies are told to go through El-STP guidelines thoroughly as that is the basic document for processes involved in setting up of Skill Development Centers (SDC), engaging trainers, mobilization of youth, funding pattern, attendance capturing mechanism, organizing training programmes, assessment and certification, submission of utilization certificate, placement of trained youth and tracking. RSLDC issues work-order highlighting name of districts, sectors, number of Skill Development Centers and target of youth to be trained to select training partners.

b. Orientation of Training Partners and their staff

RSLDC organizes orientation programme for TP and their staff on various facets of skill development programmes including setting up of SDCs, mobilization of youth for training, selection of trainers, funding pattern, organization of training programmes, MIS system, assessment and certification, placement, submission of Utilization Certificate, etc. It also organizes training programmes for trainers and for MIS personnel of TPs occasionally.

c. Setting up of Skill Development Centre (SDC)

Based on the work order, TP selects a building for setting up of SDC in the allotted districts, equips the SDC with the required infrastructure, and engages trainers as per laid down qualification and experience. Once the SDC is ready, TP sends a mail to district manager for inspection. District team undertakes inspection as per template supplied by RSL-DC. And the Inspection report is sent to Zonal Coordinator at RSLDC HQ at Jaipur. If the report is approved, Annual Sanction Order (ASO) is issued. TP on submission of Bank Guarantee can claim advance amount to the extent of 50% of the total cost of a course from RSLDC.

d. Organization of Training Programme(s)

On receiving the ASO, TP starts mobilizing youth. It consults the list of youth interested in training available on RSLDC website and the list of all departments, which have transferred the funds to RSLDC for imparting training to a particular category of youth and organizes counseling for interested youth. Depending on the space available for a particular course, youth are shortlisted for training. TP, then links its biometric machine with RSLDC software for attendance capturing and starts the training, while also ensuring the development of National Occupational Standards (NOS) required for a Job. On completion of the training course, an Assessor from RSLDC visits the SDC and submits report to concerned Sector Skill Council after conducting the assessment, which in turn, on examining the reports, prepares the certificates and sends them to SDC for distribution amongst the concerned trainees.

e. Monitoring and Supervision

RSLDC has constituted a District level committee under the Chairmanship of District Collector to identify skill gaps, oversee the organization of skill training programmes and to find out placement opportunities. The Committee comprises of concerned district level officers of the departments participating in convergence. Monitoring of training programmes is done in two ways - (a) through attendance and (b) by visit of RSL-DC district level officers of concerned departments. RSLDC HQ staff also occasionally supervises the organization of training programmes. Review meetings are held at HQ to review TP -wise progress and to discuss issues pending with RSL-DC.

f. Submission of Utilization Certificate and Payment

On completion of the training, TP is required to submit Utilization Certificate with necessary documents. UC is processed based on attendance. RSLDC releases due amount to the TP, but, not more than 80%. Since, TP is provided 3 months' time for placement of trained youth, the next 20% is paid on verification of placement of trained youth. As per RSLDC requirement, TP is required to place minimum of 50% of the trained youth. In case, TP is able to place more than 50% youth, it gets incentive for every 1 0⁰/0 increase in placement. Similarly, if the placement is less than 50%, proportional amount is deducted from the remaining 20%. If TP is unable to place more than 35% trained in two consecutive batches, TP is not sanctioned third batch.

Providing Training Data to Sponsoring Departments

Data for category wise youth trained are compiled and sent to respective departments. In turn, each department provides information regarding youth trained to respective Ministry or Department of Government of India and this is the way, convergence mechanism is used to train youth of various categories through El-STP.

Impact

The impact of the convergence mechanism can be observed by the departments participation in skill development through RSLDC, In 2013-14, only 1 department transferred the amount to RSLDC for organizing training. The number of departments increased to 5 in 2014-15 and to 9 in 2015-16. The Departments, which have transferred the training target and funds to RSLDC have observed following benefits of convergence:

• Mobilization of youth for all schemes on a single platform.
• Better matching of aptitude and availability of wide variety of sectors and availability of National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant courses.
• Establishment of large skill development centers and Optimum utilization of skill training infrastructure.
• Effective monitoring and supervision.
• Homogenous assessment and certification.
• Widespread IEC Activities, Awards & Innovation.
• Centralized data base.
• Effective utilization of central government funds.

RSLDC initially introduced convergence mechanism in Employment linked skilltraining programme (El-STP), where expected outcome is wage employment. Since all the departments that transferred their training targets and funds to RSLDC were also looking to provide employment for trained youth the convergence became possible. Encouraged by the performance and results of convergence of schemes meant to provide wage employment after training, RSLDC offered its Regular Skill Training Programme (RSTP) as yet another convergence scheme for all training schemes oriented towards self-employment. Some departments have already contacted RSLDC for transferring their targets and funds to organize skill training leading to self- employment.

Key takeaways

The convergence model of RSLDC is a good model for integrating skilling efforts of various departments and ministries for better quality, accountability, effectiveness and optimum use of government resources in the field of skill development and can be replicated in other states. It results in mobilization of youth for all schemes on a single platform, better matching of aptitude and availability of courses, optimum utilization of skill training infrastructure, effective monitoring and supervision, homogenous assessment and certification, centralized data base and effective utilization of central government funds.

For more information, visit http://livelihoods.rajasthan.gov.in/content/livelihood/en/skill-department.html

Source : Skilling for employability - Best Practices