Why in news?

 Lukewarm response to project Unnati, which aims to reduce dependence on the MGNREGS by imparting skill training to its beneficiaries

Highlights

• Union Rural Development Ministry wants to link performances of the States under the project with its labour budget for the upcoming financial year.
• Since its inception in 2020, just a little over 25,000 persons have been trained under the project, falling far short of its target of 2 lakh.
• The project was slated to end on March 2022 but has now been extended by two years.
• Indifference with state governments with regard to implementation of scheme is one of the reasons for deferring

What is project Unnati ?

• It is a skilling project intends to upgrade the skill base of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA beneficiaries
• Aim: In improving their livelihoods, from the partial employment to full-time employment by reducing their dependence on Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.
• Conditions: One adult member (of age 18-45 years old) of a household ,completed 100 days of work under MGNREGA in the previous financial year.
• The household from which, candidates are selected for the training, are continuing to enjoy 100 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.
• The candidate undergoing training are paid a stipend for a maximum period of 100 days and for one program per household as per the wage rate prevailing in the concerned State/UT as per the provisions of the project.
• Full expenditures towards a stipend, against wage loss compensation, are entirely borne by Central Government.
• Training centres : The DeenDayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana, the Rural Self-training institute and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra .
• The Grameena Kaushal Yojana is placement linked programme ,70% of the trained candidateshave to be compulsorily employed with minimum salary of Rs. 6,000 a month