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Smile

Livelihood Skill Development Training Programme for Rural Youth

Livelihood Skill Development Training Programme for Rural Unemployed Youth

With a population of 1.4 billion people, India is not just the 2nd populous country in the world but also holds the reserves of vast human resources. Better still is the fact that the current median age in India is 28.4 years which indicates a distinct demographic advantage as around 68% of the population belongs to the working age-group. However, possessing this demographic dividend alone is not enough. It is imperative that our human resources are converted into efficient human capital that can drive the economic growth of the country. Livelihood Skill Development Programme can play a crucial role in this regard by training them early and training them right. Here’s the why and how!

Livelihood Skill Development Programme: Definition and Need

Livelihood skills refer to the skill set or capabilities, resources and opportunities required for pursuing economic goals or income generation. These comprise technical know-how and vocational skills which can help a person take up an occupation and also the basic skill set like interviewing skills, business acumen, digital skills, accounting and money management etc. required for seeking any job or entrepreneurial activity.

Livelihood skills can truly empower an individual and make him/her capable of gainful employment to meet the needs of self as well as family. The livelihood skills also enable an individual to put their education to practical use. India accounts for one-fifth of the world’s youth population. This can be a tremendous opportunity for our country provided; the youth population is skilled and employable to further the nation’s economic goals.

According to a study, lack of employability skills of Indian youth is a far greater problem than the current scenario of unemployment in India. Data presented in this study from UNICEF and Global Business Coalition for education states that by the year 2030, 54% of South Asians will lack the requisite skills to secure a decent job. It further says that 50% of Indian youth are off the track from obtaining education and skills required for employment by 2030.

A report by ASSOCHAM states that out of about 5 million students graduating every year in India, less than 47% are employable and only about 20% find employment. Many studies point at the loopholes in our existing education system as primarily responsible for this situation. In today’s dynamic world, one needs multiple skills to adapt and meet the requirements of any industry. Besides subject knowledge, communication and soft skills, basic digital literacy and IT skills are also a must to thrive in the job market.

The main purpose of a livelihood skill development programme is to impart the necessary skills to enhance the ability and opportunities of income generation and sustainable livelihood and hence have access to improved standard of living.

Skill Development Training in Rural India  

Rural youth comprise nearly 68% of the total population of India, of which 52% are male and 48% are female. This establishes the fact that our demographic dividend is concentrated in rural India and in order to foster economic growth through human capital, our rural youth must be able to realise their full potential. However, in absence of targeted training and skill development our rural youth often face challenges to adapt to today’s fast changing world and ever evolving job market.

Understanding the importance and urgency of this matter, the Govt. of India has launched the initiative of Skill Development Training with the primary objective of empowering women and educated unemployed youth. Indian Government’s Skill Development programmes are designed to impart the necessary skills to enhance productivity and employability of rural youth.

Various schemes have been launched for skill development of rural youth under the Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).  These schemes further the objective of building self-reliance as envisioned in the idea of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ by the honourable Prime Minister.

Few of the rural skill development programmes in India are listed below:

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana(DDU-GKY): Launched in 2014 by Ministry of Rural Development as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), it serves the dual objectives of fulfilling career aspirations of rural youth as well as adding diversity to income of poor rural households. DDU-GKY focuses on rural youth in the age group of 15-35 years belonging to economically weaker families. Data shows that 12,69,442 candidates have been trained and 7,60,365 placements done under DDU-GKY by year 2022.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Flagship scheme of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) aimed at training youth to be industry-ready and secure a better livelihood. This skill certification scheme recognizes prior learning and also certifies them after due assessment. This scheme empowers both educated and uneducated unemployed youth with practical and vocational skills. Along with training and skill upgradation, PMKVY also provides placement assistance and continuous monitoring.

Craftsmen Training Scheme: One of the flagship schemes of Directorate General of Training (DGT) under MSDE for long term vocational training in the country. This scheme is implemented through a network of government and private Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) throughout the country aimed to create skilled workforce for around 138 trades in various industries.

Besides the above, there are many skill training and rural youth development programmes under Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) implemented by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India which imparts agri-based vocational skill training to rural youth. These programmes have transformed the lives of many rural young men and women and inspired hundreds of others through their examples.

Impact of Skill Development Programmes on Rural Youth

The primary objective of every skill development programme is to enhance the abilities and thus opportunities of the candidates by equipping them with necessary and relevant skills. These programmes when properly implemented can create a positive spiral at both individual and community level.

 According to a research paper the DDU-GKY programme which is a placement linked training and skill-development initiative for poor rural youth has had a significant economic impact on livelihoods of the beneficiaries by increasing employment opportunities as well as augmenting income levels. This in turn enhances their disposable income, thus improving standard of living.

Similarly, a compilation of 75 success stories under Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) brings into focus the commendable impact created by many such training programmes across the country.

Whether it is the story of Tapash Roy of Assam who used various poultry rearing skills acquired in a training to substantially increase his income or the story of a small time farmer Edmon Lamurong of Meghalaya who picked scientific skills of honey extraction from a training programme to generate sustainable profits from beekeeping; every single success story in this compilation reverberates with applause for the skill training programmes and impact they have on lives of individuals and their families.

Conclusion

Livelihood skill development training programmes not only mitigate unemployment and improve standard of living for rural households but also directly or indirectly impact multiple aspects like rural-urban migration, socio-economic position of women and equitable access to opportunities, thus playing an instrumental role in the progress of the entire nation. 

Smile Foundation and Skill Development

Smile Foundation through its e-learning education programme, STeP continues to create a pool of young and independent people through skill enhancement in tandem with market requirements providing training in soft skills, basic computer use, spoken English, and the basics of written communication as well. It is our custom-made skill development programme for the Indian youth.

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Education

10 Rights Of A Child In India

Child Rights In India

It is really upsetting to watch kids who have been abandoned, left to fend for themselves on the streets, subjected to abuse, and denied access to even the most basic schooling. They experience many sorts of violence. In addition, they lack even access to basic medical services. Every day, they endure brutal and terrible treatment. They are innocent, young, and lovely youngsters who are being denied their rights. Let’s learn about some important rights of children in India.

The rights of children have been ratified the most often in the history of human rights. Child rights go beyond basic human rights, which ensure that everyone is treated fairly and decently and support their wellbeing. A child, defined as anybody under the age of 18, has special requirements that go beyond basic human rights because of their vulnerability.

Rights of Children In India: A  Short Overview

Child rights are described as the “minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be afforded to every citizen below the age of 18 regardless of race, national origin, color, gender, language, religion, opinions, origin, wealth, birth status, disability, or other characteristics” by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These privileges comprise children’s freedom and civil rights, a supportive family environment, basic healthcare and social services, educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities, as well as extra security measures.

The laws that govern our nation and the international legal instruments that we have ratified guarantee a number of norms and rights. The Indian Constitution grants certain rights, particularly for children. Children also enjoy a number of other basic rights as equal citizens of India, just like any adult male or female. No matter what limitations there may be, everyone is entitled to these rights.

Major Rights of Children In India are:

Right to Equality

Every citizen in India is equal before the law and is given equal protection under the law, according to Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. As a result, since Indian children are also citizens of this country, this right also applies to them.

Right against Discrimination

The Constitution forbids discrimination on the basis of race, caste, and other factors under Article 15. No citizen may be subjected to discrimination on the basis of his or her race, religion, caste, sex, or place of birth, according to Article 15(1). The State should not be barred from adopting any specific measures for women and children, according to Article 15(3).

Right to Life

Each and every person has the right to life, liberty, and security, as stated in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Additionally, it stipulates that no one may be deprived of their life or personal freedom until doing so in accordance with a legal process. In a similar vein, every kid in India is entitled to personal freedom and due process.

Right to Health

Every kid has the right to have a healthy life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, although tangentially. The protection of life includes, among other things, issues like HIV infections, a lack of clean water to drink, proper sanitation, and starvation.

Right to Express Oneself Freely

Every Indian citizen now enjoys the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). Everyone has access to this privilege, including Indian children. Children are allowed to express themselves freely as long as they don’t hurt others with their ideas or expertise.

Right to Education

Every child in the age range of 6 to 14 has the right to free and compulsory primary education under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. The State should endeavor to provide early childhood care and education for all children under the age of six, according to Article 45.

Right to Protection against being subjected to Trafficking and Forced Labor

Every individual (including children) has the right to protection from human trafficking, begging, and other similar types of forced labor, according to Article 23 of the Indian Constitution.

Right to be protected from Dangerous Jobs

Every child under the age of 14 has the right to be safeguarded from employment in mines, factories, or other risky employment situations under Article 24 of the Indian Constitution.

Right to protection from Abuse

According to Article 39(e) of the Indian Constitution, employees’ health, strength, and young age are not infringed, and there is a right to protection from abuse and from being coerced into small jobs or avocations against their will because of economic need.

Rights against exploitation of any kind, including Social Injustice

The rights of the weaker members of society are covered in Article 46 of the Constitution, which also states that they must be protected against social injustice and all other types of exploitation.

Right to Identity

The right to identify is a crucial component of children’s rights. In India, just 41% of births are recorded. A fundamental human right that grants someone the freedom to exercise all of their other rights is having an identity. An individual’s family name, last name, date of birth, gender, and country make up their identity. An individual will have rights and duties according to their status if they are able to identify such identities (woman, man, child, etc.).

Types of child abuse offences

Amazing things are something that people are capable of doing. We have repeatedly abandoned thousands of children despite having changed the definition of what is feasible a hundred thousand times. This decline in human capacity has been accepted as “normal” by society. Millions of children’s fundamental rights are denied to them or infringed, including the right to an education, protection from exploitation, and freedom from child labor.

Now that we are aware of rights of children in India, it is time to learn about the several ways that children might have their rights violated. The following are only a few of the numerous crimes against children that violate their rights:

Child Marriage

Children’s fundamental rights are violated by child marriage. Children who are victims of this crime frequently have to quit school, violating their fundamental right to an education guaranteed by Article 21 and Article 45 of the Constitution.

Additionally, they experience assault (sexual, physical, and mental), which violates their right to personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Child marriage exposes young people to situations for which their bodies and minds are not yet developed, such as parenthood.

In India, there are almost 24 million child brides.

Child Labor

The full day is frequently spent by children under the age of fourteen sewing shoes and footballs, rolling cigarettes and incense sticks, making handicrafts, packaging, and labelling various products. Youngster labor is frequently a result of poor parental income or the unemployment of the family’s adults, which forces the child to care for or contribute to household needs.

The following are the main causes of child labor:

Food insecurity, extreme poverty, societal issues, and economic difficulties are a few examples.

The other elements include:

Lack of knowledge of the negative impacts of child labor, inability to obtain basic, relevant education and training.

Using Children for Begging

Indian children still endure some of the worst conditions and punishments to this day, one of which is coercing or forcing them to beg. Article 21 of the Constitution (right to personal liberty) and Section 76 of the Juvenile Justice Act both make it illegal to employ or utilize a kid for begging.

The Mistreatment of a Child Worker

A youngster may be purportedly employed, kept in servitude, refused his portion of the money, or even have his earrings used for the employer’s benefit. Article 39(e) and Article 46 of the Constitution both forbid this behavior, and Section 79 of the Juvenile Justice Act penalizes it.

Smile Foundation and Children

The Smile Foundation has been actively involved in spreading awareness about rights of children in India. We are very serious about rights of children in India and are actively involved in putting every child of lower-income families back into schools for a better future.

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Smile

Internet Safety for Children

Internet safety for children

Why Internet Safety Matters ?

 

There’s no getting around technology today. It is everywhere, from when you wake up till you rest your head at night. Children and youth have non-stop access to the internet, from smartphones to tablets to computers and even televisions, making internet safety for children a very real risk.

 

The lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19 in India resulted in the sudden closure of schools, with a shift from traditional teaching to the online mode. Due to online teaching, children who were earlier kept away from mobile phones and did not have much knowledge about internet use also started using the internet fearlessly on the pretext of online teaching.

 

We are all well aware of the dangers of internet if used carelessly and without full awareness. As the shift to online teaching was abrupt, the children were not prepared for the dos and don’ts of using the internet, putting them in a highly vulnerable situation.

As more children start using internet independently and without supervision, they are open to several internet safety risks which could impact their own as well as their family’s lives in an adverse way.

 

Internet Safety Risks for School-age Children

 

Content Risks
For school-going children these risks include things that they might find upsetting, disgusting or otherwise uncomfortable, if they come across them accidentally. This might include sexual content in games, pornography, images of cruelty to animals, and real or simulated violence.

 

Contact Risks
These risks include children coming into contact with people they don’t know or with adults posing as children online. For example, a child might be persuaded to share personal information with strangers, provide contact details after clicking on pop-up messages, or meet in person with someone they’ve met online.

 

Conduct Risks
These risks include children acting in ways that might hurt others, or being the victim of this kind of behaviour. For example, a child might destroy a game that a friend or sibling has created. Another conduct risk is accidentally making in-app purchases.

 

Contract Risks
These risks include children signing up to unfair contracts, terms or conditions that they aren’t aware of or don’t understand. For example, children might click a button that allows a business to send them inappropriate marketing messages or collect their personal or family data. Or children might use a toy, app or device with weak internet security, which leaves them open to identity theft or fraud.

 

Teaching your Children about Internet Safety

 

The intention isn’t to scare you or make you want to lock down all of your electronic devices. As previously mentioned, in today’s technology-driven world, children need to understand and use the internet. But, the key is to teach your children exactly how the internet works and how to explore the web safely.

 

Children are innately innocent creatures, full of trust and never expecting that someone could harm them. Therefore, when a potential predator initiates a conversation online, claiming to be a fellow 9-year-old, your child might believe them. This common occurrence is catfishing, when someone misrepresents themselves online to try and get something from someone else.

 

So, your kid proceeds to chat with this person, unwittingly providing them with critical personal information. Even more chilling, they can make this faceless person privy to their whereabouts, ultimately leading to a potential abduction.

 

These things happen, but your children aren’t going to know they exist if you don’t talk to them about it. Therefore, the first step in keeping your children safe on the internet is to educate them about the possible risks. Set up some ground rules with your children about what they can and can’t do on the internet.

 

Signs your Child might be Facing Cyber Threats/Risk

 

Here are a few signs to look out for that your child might be a victim of cyberbullying:

 

  • Your child doesn’t want to talk to you about what they do online
  • After spending time on a computer, tablet, or phone, your child seems stressed or upset
  • When your child gets a text or some other type of online message, they suddenly seem nervous
  • Your child abruptly closes their tablet or puts down their phone while using it and walks away
  • You notice behavioural changes in your child, such as not sleeping well, loss of appetite, or feeling depressed
  • Your child could experience physical problems like headaches or an upset stomach
  • You notice your child doesn’t want to hang out with their friends anymore or go to school

Protecting children from internet safety risks

 

Trust between you and your child helps keep your child safe online. Calm, open conversations about internet use can help your child feel that you trust them to be responsible online. And if your child feels trusted, they’re more likely to talk with you about what they do online and tell you about online content and contacts that worry them.

 

If you believe your child is facing cyber risk/threat, talk to them and encourage them to gather evidence. Take screenshots, save messages, and so on.

 

If the risk/threats includes bullying, threatening messages or any other suggested criminal activity, alert the police. Consider bringing your child to a counsellor to help them deal with the issue. Finally, let your child know you are always there for them if and when they need you.

 

In addition to making your children aware of the potential risks of internet use, it’s a good idea to put some practical protections in place. Set up parental controls and passwords that only allow your children to access certain websites.

 

When applicable, use the kid versions of messaging platforms. For example, Facebook has a Messenger Children that features more parental controls and links your kid’s chats to you. Therefore, whenever they receive or send a message, you see it.

 

To keep your children safe online, you also need to educate yourself. Know how predators try to find and contact their victims (it’s often through chat rooms).

On your internet settings, go to the Privacy & Security page and carefully read through every section. You can choose what information various sites have access to. For example, you can deactivate your web camera and microphone, and deny sites from knowing your location or sending notifications.

 

Conclusion

 

When we make our children aware about internet risks and take some practical internet safety precautions, we protect our children from potentially harmful or inappropriate content and activities. And our children get to make the most of their online experience, with its potential for learning, exploring, being creative and connecting with others.

Categories
Women Empowerment

Women’s Entrepreneurship Training by Smile Foundation

Women’s Entrepreneurship Training by Smile Foundation

Swabhiman means self-respect in English. This women’s empowerment programme was initiated by Smile Foundation in 2005. The programme named Swabhiman by Smile Foundation is specifically aimed at marginalised and socially excluded women and adolescent girls through innovative community practices. The realization of both individual and collective self-esteem, by including men and the community, is a key objective of the programme. Thus, women’s entrepreneurship training is a key aspect of the programme as well. So far, the Swabhiman programme has successfully made a difference in the lives of over 560,000 women and girl children.

One programme, many projects: Surat Nagar, Gurgaon

Under the Swabhiman programme, various targeted projects on the ground are carried out regularly. One such project is the “Empowering Women and Adolescent Girls through Reproductive Health Education and Services” in Surat Nagar Phase 2 in Gurugram. The aim of the project is to empower women and girls by generating awareness and providing them access to quality reproductive and sexual health care. In addition, involvement of men and sensitizing them is an integral part of the project. The focus beneficiary groups included adolescent girls (10-19 years), women in the reproductive age (20-49 years), and men (20-49 years).

Women’s entrepreneurship training through Swabhiman

Another aspect of Swabhiman is women’s entrepreneurship training. As women producers take ownership of their businesses and manage their own profits, they improve their social connectivity and build confidence in business negotiations. An improvement in social status is another significant outcome of the business. As a result of generating significant income to meet household needs, these women also start receiving better treatment in their households and the larger community.

Ruby is a 25-year-old resident of Surat Nagar, Gurgaon. She was born in a remote village in West Bengal and shifted to Gurgaon after her marriage. wShe has studied only up to the 8th grade. For almost four years after she got married, Ruby was a full-time homemaker. She took care of all the household chores. However, a certain uncertainty hangs around her husband’s job at a local factory. In the current economic climate, one can never be sure when they might lose their job. All this made Ruby think about starting her own work and bringing in some income for the family.

Ruby’s Enterprise

Ruby always had an interest in fashion. This and a working knowledge of computers helped Ruby take the first steps towards setting up her business. She received skill training under the women’s entrepreneurship programme of Swabhiman. Along with learning how to stitch, Ruby also got enterprise development training.

After her training, Ruby opened a small boutique in her locality. She took a loan of Rs 1,00,000 from the bank. Initially, she had just one machine and she did all the stitching herself. Now, Ruby not only makes an income for her own family, but she also has 10 employees working at her enterprise! Throughout all this, her husband remained a pillar of support for her.

Use of Online Marketing

Entrepreneurship plays a major role in harnessing knowledge and converting it into a viable product or business through industrial innovation. This is an enviable achievement of Ruby’s boutique. With growing availability of technology and smart devices, Ruby has managed to take her business online. This has enabled her to expand her customer base and business.

Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs

Ruby believes that life and business do not have ‘problems’; she likes to call them challenges instead. Calling anything a challenge can inspire one to fight back harder and come up with innovative means to mitigate the challenge. Ruby likes to face challenges head on and dealing with them.

For her, the biggest challenge was not having a background in fashion. However, her sustained interest in the field, support from family, and the helpful interventions of entrepreneurship training allowed her to learn and adapt very fast. Like any entrepreneur, she went through a period of self-doubt initially. At one point, she even felt like giving up. Yet, she persevered, and ultimately succeeded.

Empowering through Women’s Entrepreneurship Training

Through her business venture, Ruby is contributing significantly to increased production quality, marketing effectiveness, and job creation. She has proactively encouraged women to take up employment in her enterprise. She ensures that they feel safe and there is a family-like atmosphere. In the male-dominated business of clothing and tailoring boutiques, the women who work with Ruby feel they are in good hands as she is a fair and helpful employer.

Ruby’s Achievements

Ruby has raked up quite a list of achievements for herself. Her net income per month is approximately Rs. 15000, after all the payments and loan deductions. With her meticulous and organized business skills, it is only going to grow further.

Taking a cue from Ruby’s initiative, other women in her community have also been inspired to start working, either by taking up a job or starting their own venture.

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