Bengaluru, 18 Jan

The state has ordered against eight project implementing agencies (PIAs) that failed to deliver skill education despite receiving financial aid under the Deen Dayal Grameen Kaushalya Yojana.

During the meeting at Vikas Soudha on Thursday, Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, and Livelihood, instructed officials to blacklist these companies, file criminal cases against them, and recover Rs 74.65 crore with interest for violating scheme rules.

 The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, initiated on the 98th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, aims to provide free vocational training or skill education to unemployed youths aged 18 to 35, facilitating their employment in the private sector.

Further Patil noted the strict action against them. He said, “The concerned officials must visit the training centres at the district and taluk levels every month and review the progress. And the lower-rung officials must submit reports to the senior officers. I will be holding monthly meetings to review the progress and will not hesitate to act against those showing laxity,” he said.