Revisiting Gandhian Self-Reliance Through PMKVY

With a population of approximately 145 crores, but only a fraction being adequately skilledand employable, the Indian government has faced a truly daunting task in eradicating unemployment.The problem, soon recognized, was less the lack of jobs and more skilled workers who were competentenough to earn more than minimum wage and sustain themselves beyond just basic necessities.Considering these challenges, and in accordance with the Gandhian principle of self-reliance, Indialaunched Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with the aim of creating a skilled workforcethat is self-reliant, adaptable, and competitive in an evolving job market.This present research paper seeks to evaluate the recent success and challenges faced by PMKVY inaddressing its major objectives and aligning with the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, whose idea of selfreliance was deeply rooted within his broader philosophy of Swadeshi and rural regeneration. Over thecourse of the past few years, PMKVY has evolved and changed from PMKVY 1.0 to PMKVY 4.0,incorporating the elements of modern training and transition required for people’s development. It aimsto train individuals using monetary incentives in order to encourage them to take part in skill learningprograms. This research analyses data from different primary and secondary sources to assess itsnational impact and contribution towards fostering self-reliant livelihoods