The Ministry of Minority Affairs organised “Samavesh Se VIKAS – Implementation Review and Stakeholder Dialogue” on 4 November 2026 at Samrasta Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The event brought together over 80 participants, in the presence of Shri Shyama Prasad Roy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, and Ms. Neha Giri, Director, Ministry of Minority Affairs. Representatives of Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) and other stakeholders participated in discussions focused on reviewing the progress of Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), addressing implementation-related challenges and identifying measures to strengthen training quality, placements and overall outcomes under the scheme.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Shyama Prasad Roy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, emphasised the importance of ensuring that skill development translates into meaningful employment opportunities and a better future for beneficiaries.
“The theme is 'Samavesh Se VIKAS', and it is not a mere slogan. Our expectation is that every beneficiary, whether a girl, a school dropout or any trainee, completes skilling with a certificate in hand, gets a job and moves towards a brighter future. That is the plan,” he said.
The event also marked the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under PM VIKAS with Pithampur Auto Cluster (PAC), the Centre of Excellence in Maritime & Shipbuilding (CEMS), and the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED). These partnerships aim to expand access to skill development and industry-oriented training for youth from minority communities across different sectors and regions.
The partnership with PAC will facilitate skill training for 2,400 candidates in Madhya Pradesh in job roles aligned with emerging industry requirements, including Electric Vehicle Service Technician, CNC Milling Programmer, Warehouse Associate and Supply Chain Executive (Sustainability).
The MoU with CEMS will facilitate skill training for 6,300 candidates across Karnataka, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat. The training will cover several job roles, including Business Analyst, Warehouse Supervisor, AI Technocrat and Guest Service Executive (Front Office), among others.
Under the partnership with IED, 900 candidates in Uttar Pradesh will receive skill training in the Solar PV Installer (Suryamitra) job role. The initiative aims to equip young people with industry-relevant skills and prepare them for emerging employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector, contributing to the development of a skilled workforce for India's growing green energy ecosystem.
In another development under PM VIKAS, the Ministry of Minority Affairs signed an MoU with the Central University of Kashmir on 3 November 2026 for the implementation of training under the Traditional Skill component of the scheme. Under this initiative, 120 candidates will receive training as willow craft artisans in Ganderbal district, Jammu & Kashmir, through a 390-hour training programme. The initiative aims to preserve traditional craftsmanship while helping participants develop skills that can support sustainable livelihood opportunities.
During the event, Ms. Neha Giri, Director, Ministry of Minority Affairs, made a presentation on the progress of PM VIKAS, highlighting its implementation status, key areas requiring attention and priorities for the way forward. She stressed the need for PIAs to give greater attention to employment outcomes and maintain closer engagement with employers.
“We expect all our PIAs to place a much sharper focus on placement outcomes, employer engagement and timely reporting of verified placement data,” she said.
A key session of the event was the PIA-wise implementation review, during which progress under PM VIKAS was examined alongside issues and challenges faced by implementing agencies. The review provided a platform for detailed discussions on implementation-related concerns, identifying areas requiring attention and exploring practical measures to strengthen coordination, training delivery, placement outcomes and monitoring mechanisms. The discussions also focused on improving accountability and ensuring that training programmes lead to meaningful employment opportunities for beneficiaries.
The event further included discussions on strengthening quality assurance through independent monitoring by the Quality Council of India (QCI) and Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore). Technology-driven solutions were also discussed, including BlueDot for improving placement outcomes and Voice AI for collecting candidate feedback, as presented by EkStep Foundation. The discussions also covered the role of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in the skill development ecosystem, with emphasis on strengthening industry linkages and employment opportunities.
A presentation by ITIHAAS – Indian Traditions and Heritage Society on “Upskilling for Youth in Heritage and Tourism” highlighted opportunities for developing skills among young people in the heritage and tourism sectors. The presentation focused on connecting skill development with India's cultural heritage and creating livelihood opportunities through tourism-related activities.
The event concluded with an interactive dialogue involving Ministry officials, stakeholders and PIAs, providing an opportunity to share field-level experiences, discuss implementation concerns and challenges, and offer recommendations for strengthening the delivery and effectiveness of PM VIKAS.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs remains committed to improving access to quality skill development, strengthening industry linkages and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth from minority communities through PM VIKAS.