TLDR;
The video is about the irregularities in the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) or the Skill India scheme, as revealed in a CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) report. The report highlights issues such as missing bank details of beneficiaries, use of the same account numbers for multiple beneficiaries, and discrepancies in trainer and candidate data. The scheme aimed to provide skill training to unemployed youth, but the audit found significant flaws in its implementation and financial management.
- Massive data discrepancies in beneficiary records.
- Funds not utilized effectively, with training provided in sectors where skilled workers were already abundant.
- Instances of fraudulent activities by training centers, including fake employee data and fabricated media coverage.
Introduction to the PMKVY Scheme [0:00]
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), or Skill India, was launched in July 2015 with the goal of providing skill training to unemployed youth and creating employment opportunities. The scheme has completed three phases, with the fourth phase currently underway. The first phase, from 2015 to 2016, trained 24 lakh youth. The second phase, from October 2016 to 2020, spent ₹12,000 crore to train 1.10 crore youth. The third phase, launched in January 2021 and lasting until March 2022, spent ₹948.90 crore on training 8 lakh youth. The CAG conducted a performance audit of the scheme, examining the central skill development ministry and three central agencies: NSDC, NCVET, and NSDF. The audit also included a review of the scheme's implementation and financial management in eight states: Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha, surveying 90 skill training centers and 1045 beneficiaries.
Findings on Job Role Training [2:36]
The CAG audit found that the PMKVY aimed to provide training in 724 job roles, aligning with the National Skill Development Policy to focus on sectors needing the most skill training, such as construction, logistics, tourism, and furniture fitting. However, the audit revealed that more training was given in sectors already saturated with skilled workers, like electronics, apparel, logistics, retail, and beauty and wellness. Specifically, 60% of beneficiaries were trained in just 10 out of the 724 job roles. A significant portion of beneficiaries received training in apparel-related jobs (10%), electronics and computer repair (7%), and retail and sales (4.25%), which did not necessarily translate into new employment opportunities.
Data Discrepancies in Beneficiary Records [3:47]
The audit highlighted significant discrepancies in the data of beneficiaries. Ideally, the Skill India portal should contain records of each beneficiary's name, Aadhaar details, and phone number, along with details of the trainers and batch numbers. However, the CAG found that much of this data was missing. Trainer names were missing for 1507 batches, affecting 25,981 individuals, and trainer IDs were not mentioned in 230,758 batches, impacting 61,307 beneficiaries. There was no available information on who trained a large number of beneficiaries. Additionally, the data on who assessed the skill training of over 93 lakh beneficiaries was not available with the ministry.
Irregularities in Direct Benefit Transfers [4:55]
Under the PMKVY, beneficiaries receive a stipend of ₹1500 per month during training and an additional ₹500 upon passing the examination, directly transferred to their accounts. However, the CAG found that the ministry lacked bank details for 9,066,264 out of 9,590,801 beneficiaries in phases two and three. Among the available bank details, many were flawed, with the same account number used for multiple beneficiaries. One account number was used for over 2000 beneficiaries, and 11,587 accounts were used more than twice. In many instances, placeholders like "111111" or sequences of numbers were entered instead of actual bank details. Although the ministry initially mandated bank details, this requirement was later dropped. The ministry claimed that direct benefit transfers were made to accounts linked to Aadhaar numbers, but data showed that only 17.69% of accounts, or 18% of total beneficiaries, actually received the stipend and incentive money.
Issues with Contact Information [6:47]
The audit also revealed significant issues with candidate phone numbers and email IDs. The Skill India portal contained 53 email addresses that were entered more than 5000 times each, and 14,912 emails used for 11 to 50 candidates. In total, 71,20,995 beneficiaries had incorrect email IDs. Similarly, one mobile number was used for 6759 beneficiaries, and 1,056,475 beneficiaries had incorrect mobile numbers recorded. This indicated a systemic failure in maintaining accurate candidate data.
Fraudulent Training Centers [7:34]
The CAG report exposed instances of fraudulent activities by training centers. For example, Neelima Moving Pictures, a Delhi-based company, claimed to have trained 33,493 employees between January and November 2020. However, the company could not be located during the audit and was found to have only 2 to 10 employees according to its LinkedIn profile. The company also used the same photos to falsely represent training sessions in different locations. Similarly, Radiate Design, another company, claimed to have trained 15,218 participants but had not filed returns since 2014-15, and its registered address was a shop without a visible sign board. Jaipur Cultural Society organized a certificate distribution ceremony on February 31st and provided fake and edited media coverage of its skill training programs.
Delays in Fund Allocation and Ministerial Accountability [10:52]
The audit also found delays in the allocation of funds to states, with ₹222 crore not released on time. Additionally, over ₹24 crore was spent on administrative tasks. The report raises questions about the accountability of ministers who oversaw the scheme during the period of these alleged irregularities, including Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Mahendranath Pandey. With over ₹10,000 crore spent on the scheme, the findings suggest a significant waste of taxpayer money, demanding a clear explanation from the government, especially to the youth who were promised jobs and employment opportunities.
