MNREGA: Govt offers LIFE-line to young workers
THE NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO RISE WITH 2 MORE DAYS REMAINING FOR APPLYING FOR SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS UNDER THE RTE The project LIFE aims to promote selfreliance and improve skill base of the youngsters in the state. The project life is being linked with flagship rural job scheme MNREGA and skill development, in order to generate a permanent livelihood
compulsory for students applying for admission in private schools under the 25% RTE quota. To facilitate the process and ensure that no eligible children are denied admission, the government will take an undertaking from parents to submit Aadhaar of their wards by September 30, 2017.
Officials said that the move will facilitate the transfer of scholarships and other grants directly to the account of the beneficiaries. The move will also help to stop the duplication of RTE applications as many cases in which a child has been enrolled both in government and private schools have been reported. In August 2009, Parliament enacted RTE Act, which enables children from the weaker sections of society to access free and compulsory education.
The Rajasthan Skill and Livelihood Development Corporation (RSLDC) will start a new initiative called the livelihood in full employment (LIFE) for youngsters who have completed more than 100 work days in MNREGA schemes.
With the project to be implemented soon, youngsters who engaged under MNREGA schemes in the state, will be provided skill training in as electronics, accounting among others, said managing director of RSLDC Krishna Kunal.
“The project LIFE aims to promote self-reliance and improve skill base of the youngsters in the state. The project life is being linked with flagship rural job scheme MNREGA and skill development, in order to generate a permanent livelihood,” he said.
The project is planned to cater to youngsters who have completed 100 mandays under the employment guarantee scheme in the last two years, he said.
“Rajasthan is the only state in the country to initiate such a project for youngsters.”
Kunal further said that on the basis of a survey conducted by the state rural Development department, more than 86,000 youngsters working under MNREGA scheme and have interest in other fields were covered.
A proposal of LIFE project was sent for approval to the Centre, which suggested incorporating it with ongoing Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Koshal Yojna (DDU-GKY).
Earlier, the eligibility criteria for DDU-GKY was that the people in rural areas have completed 15 mandays.
The eligibility criteria now has been changed to 100-mandays for project LIFE, Kunal said.
More than 86,000 youngsters according to their interest will be trained through DDU-GKY in more than 41 trades, he said. “Earlier, ₹400 crore was allocated in the budget for DDUGKY, but with the addition to project LIFE it is increased to ₹ 713 crore.” He further said that in addition to skill development, youngsters will also be assisted in getting loans to setup businesses. The chief minister’s skill loan scheme too will provide interest subsidy on loan between 4% and 6%, along with a moratorium, loan interest after training, he said.