Seekho Aur Kamao (Learn and Earn)

✦Key Features

• Target: minority youth aged 14-35 years
• 75% placement guarantee; 50% in organized sector
• Post-placement support: ₹2,000/month for 2 months
• Sectors: healthcare, IT, retail, tourism, construction, textiles, beauty, food
• Implemented through PIAs (Project Implementing Agencies) — NGOs, companies, institutions
• Part of Ministry of Minority Affairs skill cluster: Seekho Aur Kamao + USTTAD + Nai Manzil
• USTTAD (Upgrading Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) is companion scheme

✓Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must belong to one of the notified minority communities including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, or Jains.
• The age of the applicant must be between 14 and 45 years at the time of enrollment in the training program.
• The applicant must meet the minimum educational qualification of Class 5 or above as specified for the particular trade.
• Preference is given to candidates from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) within the minority communities.

★Benefits

• Trainees receive market-linked skill development training in a variety of traditional and modern trades.
• A monthly stipend is provided to the trainees during the course of the training program to cover ancillary costs.
• Successful candidates are provided with placement assistance with a mandate for at least 75% placement for the batch.
• Post-placement support is provided for several months to ensure the beneficiary transitions smoothly into the formal workforce.

▶Application Process

• Interested candidates must identify and approach Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) empanelled by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• Candidates need to register their details on the Seekho Aur Kamao portal or during community mobilization drives conducted by PIAs.
• The PIAs conduct a screening and selection process to identify beneficiaries based on merit and community quotas.
• Selected candidates are enrolled in specific job-role training modules followed by assessment and certification by authorized bodies.

₹ Budget Allocation

479

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): 100% Central Sector Scheme

Historical Context

Launched in 2013-14 to implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee regarding the economic backwardness of minorities. It has now been subsumed under the PM VIKAS scheme since 2022.

Sub-Schemes

Challenges

• Inadequate post-placement tracking for the full 1-year period.
• Concentration of training providers in urban areas, leaving rural minority youth underserved.
• Mismatch between skills provided and local market demand in certain clusters.
• Delay in fund disbursement to Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) leading to operational halts.
• High attrition rates in entry-level jobs provided after training.

Reforms & Recommendations

• Better integration with local industry associations to ensure 100% placement.
• Inclusion of soft skills and digital literacy as a mandatory module across all trades.
• Introduction of a 'Credit Linkage' model for those wanting to start their own enterprises after training.

Performance Statistics

SDG Linkages

Constitutional Backing

Technology Used

Success Stories

Key Takeaways

• Targeted at 14-35 year old minority youth.
• 75% mandatory placement, with 50% in the organized sector.
• Minimum 33% seats reserved for minority women.
• Includes both modern and traditional skill sets.
• Merged into PM VIKAS for an integrated heritage-skilling approach.

Convergence Schemes

• PM-VIKAS
• Nai Manzil
• USTTAD
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

Sector Tags