Empowering Rural Youth in Kerala: DDU-GKY 2.0 Project Overview
Background:-
In a significant move to alleviate rural poverty through skill development, the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY 2.0) is being implemented in Kerala by Kudumbashree, the State Poverty Eradication Mission. This national flagship initiative, under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), focuses on empowering rural poor youth with industry-relevant skills and assured placements.
Kerala, known for its high literacy rate, now steps into a new phase of rural transformation by bridging the gap between skill and livelihood. Through DDU-GKY 2.0, the state aims to skill and place thousands of rural youth in sustainable, income-generating employment.
Introduction:-
Kudumbashree has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) inviting eligible organizations to become Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) for DDU-GKY 2.0. The mission is simple: skill rural youth, provide them placements, and ensure long-term career progression.
Whether you’re a skilling agency, an NGO, or a government body with the passion and infrastructure to train and place youth, this is your chance to contribute to Kerala’s rural prosperity.
Scope of Work:-
The scope under this initiative includes:
- Setting up training centers, preferably in rural areas of Kerala.
- Imparting domain-specific skill training aligned with industry standards.
- Ensuring minimum 70% placement of trained candidates in wage, self, or gig employment.
- Providing training in diverse sectors such as:
- IT & ITeS
- Aerospace & Aviation
- Automotive
- Electronics & Hardware
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Banking & Finance
- Beauty & Wellness
- Construction & Manufacturing
- Supporting credit linkages for self-employment opportunities.
- Achieving placement outcomes with verifiable documentation.
Benefits of Participating:-
Becoming a PIA under DDU-GKY 2.0 offers several strategic advantages:
- Contribute to rural development while building your institutional credibility.
- Get access to government funding aligned with DDU-GKY norms.
- Opportunity to partner with Kudumbashree, one of India’s most respected poverty alleviation missions.
- Support from a well-defined SOP and training framework.
- Address industry demands while changing lives through livelihood generation.
Eligibility Criteria:-
Entities interested in applying must meet the following eligibility standards:
- Registered under relevant Indian laws (Trusts, Societies, Companies Act, etc.).
- Be operational for at least 3 years (except for recognized start-ups).
- Must possess a valid Permanent Registration Number (PRN) from MoRD.
- NGOs must be registered on NITI Aayog’s Darpan Portal.
- No consortiums allowed.
- Entities with ongoing recovery proceedings or blacklisting are disqualified.
- Applicants must bear appraisal costs and strictly follow DDU-GKY placement verification protocols.
- There are four categories under which organizations can apply:
- Captive Employers
- Existing PIAs with >50% placement record
- New skilling agencies
- Recognized Start-ups in skilling
Conclusion:-
DDU-GKY 2.0 in Kerala is more than a skilling initiative it’s a mission to transform rural livelihoods. Kudumbashree invites capable organizations to come forward, set up training centers, and provide the youth of Kerala a path to prosperity.
With a clear focus on employment-linked training, strong placement targets, and emphasis on rural outreach, this is a golden opportunity to be part of a structured, high-impact development program.
Hurry! Submit your applications online at http://kaushal.rural.gov.in before 27th May 2025, and send hard copies to Kudumbashree HQ by 31st May 2025.
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