SDPI Demands Accountability after CAG Flags PMKVY Lapses

SDPI Demands Accountability after CAG Flags PMKVY Lapses

The Social Democratic Party of India expresses profound concern over the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) performance audit report on the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), tabled in Parliament during the Winter Session.Yasmin Farooqui, national general secretary condemns the glaring lapses in this flagship skilling scheme under the Modi government, which expose systemic failures in governance and accountability.

The audit reveals shocking irregularities, including 94.53 percent of beneficiary bank account details entered as zeros, blanks, or invalid entries across states. Duplicated photographs, repeated mobile numbers, and fictitious email addresses point to widespread data manipulation and potential ghost enrollments. Despite an outlay of approximately 14,450 crore rupees from 2015 to 2022, targeting 1.32 crore candidates, the scheme achieved a dismal 41 percent placement rate. Enrollment ignored prescribed criteria for age, education, and experience, while funds worth 222.63 crore rupees faced delays and underutilization. Non functional training centers and inadequate market demand assessments further underscore the program’s inefficiency.

This is not merely administrative oversight but a betrayal of India’s youth, who deserve genuine opportunities for skill development and employment. The Modi government’s much touted initiative has squandered public resources, inflating figures to mask failures amid rising unemployment. Such mismanagement erodes trust in national programs and highlights the need for transparent, people centric policies.

The SDPI demands accountability from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and corrective measures in PMKVY 4.0 to prevent recurrence. We urge the government to prioritize real skilling aligned with job markets, ensuring benefits reach marginalized communities. The SDPI stands committed to advocating for equitable development and will continue to hold the ruling dispensation accountable for its lapses.

Yasmin Farooqui
National General Secretary