Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) is a transformative initiative launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, in 2014. Focusing on rural youth aged 15-35, DDUGKY aims to empower individuals through targeted skill development, fostering employment opportunities, and bridging the gap between rural talent and industry needs. This flagship program plays a vital role in enhancing livelihoods, promoting entrepreneurship, and contributing to the socio-economic development of rural communities across India.

SuccessR is actively executing this impactful project in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. This program plays a crucial role in improving livelihoods, promoting entrepreneurship, and contributing to the overall socio-economic development of rural communities in these states, aligning with the broader vision of inclusive growth and skill enhancement in India.

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What is Skilling and Placement?

- Awareness building within the community about the opportunities

- Identifying rural youth who are economically disadvantaged

- Mobilizing rural youth who show interest in skill development

- Counseling of youth and parents

- Selection based on aptitude/screening interviews

- Providing jobs that offer verifiable employment, with wages above the minimum wage

- Supporting individuals post-placement to ensure job sustainability

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Training to Career Progression

In the skills sector, the emphasis has traditionally been on skilling. SuccessR sharpens this focus by defining placement as continuous work with career progression in mind. Key guidelines include:

- Ensuring all trainees come from poor rural households

- Offering access to skilling and placement services free of cost

- Providing financial support for transport, lodging, and food during training

- Offering post-placement support for six months

- Ensuring post-placement counseling, facilitation, and tracking for up to one year

- Providing training in various trades that do not require formal education

- Collaborating with Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to validate performance

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Stages of the Program

1. Beneficiary Identification – Mobilization, counseling, and candidate selection are completed before training begins.

2. Beneficiary Mobilization and Selection – This ensures that the skills and placement needs of all eligible individuals in rural areas are addressed. Candidates identified through mobilization must show willingness to undergo the training program. The selection process is transparent and open to all stakeholders.

3. Training – Prospective trainees receive information about the nature of work in their chosen sector/trade, job availability, employer expectations, entitlements, career growth prospects, and potential risks.

4. Certification – Continuous internal assessment is integral to the course curriculum. This includes quizzes, assignments, and other tests. Each trainee's performance is documented and evaluated.

5. Placement – Helping candidates secure their first employment by providing jobs with regular monthly wages at or above the minimum wage.

6. Retention – Candidates who remain employed for one year are considered successful in transitioning into the workforce and are less likely to return to unemployment. Ensuring high retention rates requires additional support and investment.

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