Karnataka’s Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood, Sharan Prakash Patil, has voiced significant concern regarding the low participation of Yuva Nidhi scheme beneficiaries in crucial skill development training. Despite receiving financial aid, many registered candidates are not stepping forward to enhance their employability through programs offered by the Department of Skill Development and Livelihood.
“Over 300,000 graduates and diploma holders have signed up for the Yuva Nidhi scheme,” Minister Patil highlighted. “The core purpose of this initiative is twofold: to offer financial support to unemployed young individuals and to equip them with vital skills for the job market.” Yet, a worrying trend shows that a large number of these registered individuals are simply not attending the provided training sessions.
Minister Patil believes this reluctance stems from a common misconception: that enrolling in skill training might jeopardize their financial assistance. To dispel this fear, he explicitly clarified, “The financial aid provided through the Yuva Nidhi scheme will absolutely continue, even if beneficiaries participate in the training programs.”
He further explained that the financial support would only cease if a beneficiary secures employment or opts for further higher education.
When asked about the possibility of making these training programs mandatory for Yuva Nidhi registrants, Mr. Patil stated, “We have the option to make the training compulsory, but we intend to allow a grace period before implementing such a measure.”
Additionally, the Minister announced that a brand new skill policy has been drafted and is set to be presented to the next Cabinet meeting. This policy is primarily designed to boost employment opportunities for young people across the state.