MGNF – Decoding district level skilling and entrepreneurship

Gowtham Mukkati

Uttara Kannada, Karnataka

“Despite being an engineer, I had an inclination towards the public policy. The MGNF offered me academic sessions along with practical exposure in the form of District Immersion.

My major motivation was understanding the nuances of public policy. Along with that, I also wanted to kindle the entrepreneurial spirit amongst the rural youth and make them self-sufficient. I felt rural entrepreneurship could end distress migration, solve the problem of price disparity and lack of value addition.

Active DSC and DSC sub-committees would have solved the problem of coordination amongst various government departments and could have made skilling demand-centric. The employability could also be improved by innovative monitoring and evaluations.

I was able to convince the District Administration to host a web page on the official district website with complete information on ongoing skill development programmes in the district, placement support, stipends, accommodation, etc. A survey was also designed and a link was shared on the web page to capture the skilling aspirations of the youth.

I am also involved in training SHGs, creating awareness, and persuading people to undergo skill training for better income, besides encouraging industries and cooperatives to register under PMKVY and Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Karnataka Yojane.”

It is interesting to note that the MGN Fellows have taken innovative initiatives to identify and be part of implementing demand-driven skilling programmes in their respective districts. Let us now understand how it is happening in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh

Amit Goswami

Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh

“As an MGN Fellow in Kanpur Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, I got a chance to work with the district administration where the Chief Development Officer is my mentor who is continuously giving his guidance to learn administrative as well as managerial skills in the district. The District Coordinator of the DSC also assisted me to find the gaps present in the skill ecosystem of the district.

I am also learning managerial skills through the 15 days academic modules conducted by IIMB after every district immersion period which helps me in identifying barriers in raising employment, economic output, and promoting livelihoods in the district.

I have applied those managerial skills in finding the key drivers which are playing a major role in developing the district economy.

I am also assisting DSC to get aware of their roles and responsibilities in managing the training programmes under short-term training courses and RPL. We also used to analyze the progress of skill training programmes through the monthly review meeting for training partners under the District coordinator of the DSC.”

Jaishri Rai

Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh

“I am working in Hardoi district that is mainly agrarian in nature with a very small industrial sector. As an MGN Fellow, I have got many opportunities to work with the administration as well as communities. I am trying to create project modules to ensure the effectiveness of the work.

In a project named Hardoi Prerna, I am facilitating a group of 1500 women in coming with their own enterprise. I am working with the NRLM. Through counseling, capacity-building sessions, and by providing consultation on marketing and packaging, I am helping them in creating their own brand. Bamboo pickle is going to be the unique product of this enterprise Hardoi Prerna.

I am learning how to make sustainable projects using concepts of developmental economics along with the inclusion of local socio-economic dynamics. In this project, I worked on Gram Nidhi utilization which is allocated under the 15th Finance Commission to the local bodies. Hardoi is an agrarian district. Therefore, we are focusing on avenues to create self-employment. In this direction, I have increased my engagements with FPOs and SHGs.”