DIPP Impact Assessment Report
Introduction
An assessment on the impact of the skill development initiatives through DIPPwas undertaken by IL & FS Skills in Karnataka.
The programme was implemented by IL&FS Skills Ltd in partnership with The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion Ministry( DIPP) to basically fulfill three objectives; a) fulfill the aspirations of the unemployed youths, b) meet the demands of the industries and c) help the families of trainees/beneficiaries break out of cycle of poverty.
The objective of the evaluation was to assess broadly the impact of the programme on the lives of the poor BPL families with regard to economic and social aspects. The specific objectives included assessment of the effectiveness of the model to provide employment and income and thereby helping the needy families to come out of poverty.
Although many progressive steps have been taken by the Central and State Governments to address this problem of poverty, still an effective solution has not been reached yet. In this context, it is considered important to develop the skills of the poor people to get suitable employment opportunities, through which they can raise, their income level for a better living.
In order to find out apt solutions on this issue, skill development project has been taken up. This project, based on the industrial sector’s employment opportunities, led by the IL&FS Clusters Development Initiative, evaluates the trainees well-being through their job opportunities availed through IL&FS skill development training programme. In recent decades, many companies, even small and medium enterprises seem to be accepting and fostering the concept of corporate social responsibility for the society they serve and from which they benefit. The need to go beyond profits and give back something to the community has sunk in into the corporate psyche. Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) through its initiative SPRING (Skills Program for Inclusive Growth) endeavours to catalyze, facilitate and manage large scale, demand driven skills training and placement programs, with twin objectives of enabling poverty alleviation in rural areas and meeting requirements of various industries for skilled workers.
Poverty and unemployment contribute to slow progress of our nation. To reduce poverty, employable youths should be identified, trained in a large scale & placed in employments. IL&FS has implemented a program called Skills for Employment in Leather Fabrication (SELF DIPP) in context to “Human Resource Development” sub-scheme under the Plan scheme of Indian Leather Development Program (ILDP) during the 11th Plan. The project was implemented in Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. This project targeted training and placement of an aggregate 2500 unemployed youth for shop floor employment in the leather industry with the support of the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Leather Section. A total of 40 training centers have been established in the above 4 States, in which entire target have completed training, as of 31st March 2012 with more than 94% candidates have been placed under these programme so far.The target segment of the program belonged largely to weaker sections of society, this segment has traditionally had limited opportunities for improving their socio-economic profile on account of lack of access to education, skill development and employment.
An assessment on the impact of the skill development initiatives through DIPPwas undertaken by IL & FS Skills in Karnataka.
- A. Geographical Coverage: The impact evaluation study has surveyed 50 trainees in Karnataka who were trained & placed atManath Creation, Lakshmi Venkateswara, Danushree Enterprise & Sri Vari Enterprises. The study assesses Impact of the Program on the Socio-Economic status of beneficiaries.
B. The Scope of Evaluation Study has the Following Objectives:
- To assess Impact of the Program on the Socio-Economic status of beneficiaries pre and post training.
- To assess the impact of the training on the beneficiaries attitudes and performance.
- Extent of financial contribution of the beneficiaries from the salaries as support income for their families
- Career advancement / prospects of the beneficiaries after training & Placement.
Thus our survey results clearly confirm the following impact among BPL families:
- Economic Impact of the Programme
- The training / employment program enhanced the family status by way of increased income earning, which in turn brought BPL families to move above their BPL Status. This in turn has positively impacted others BPL families to encourage the youth in their family to take up training & employment to enhance their economic status.
- The economic benefit has also resulted in enabling the beneficiary trainee to construct a new house or renovate the existing house. Some have been able to purchase household assets like Mobile Phones, TVs, Radios etc.
- Social Impact of the Programme
The social impact of the programme has been measured in terms of increase in educational status of the family, membership in social organization, meeting social obligations such as marriage and having saving account in the bank.
- Impact on Health
The major impact of the programme is on health as beneficiaries have reported enhanced access to medical facilities for health treatment due to the cash in hand. Some have reported that they do not face any food scarcity now since the present income is substantially contributing towards livelihood maintenance of the family.
- Impact on the other youths in the village
In terms of impact on the other youths, beneficiaries have mentioned that the other youth in the village are also interested in joining the programme since the programme has resulted in:
- Solved unemployment problem of the village to a great extent
- Reduction of unskilled migration
- Developing economic condition and thereby leading to decent living of the villagers
- Social development of the families
- More and more unemployed youths are motivated to join in the program as the company is assuring the placement after the training.