Skill training reaches 702 SC youths in three years, all become self-employed: Sudhangshu Das

Agartala, 27^th August 2026 :  ‘Tripura government has facilitated skill development training for 702 youths from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community over the last three financial years, with all the beneficiaries trained under the SC Welfare Department currently engaged in self-employment.

SC Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das disclosed the figures in the Assembly on Thursday while replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Swapna Das Paul during the 10th session of the 13th Tripura Legislative Assembly.

According to the Minister, skill development opportunities for SC youths are not confined to programmes run by the SC Welfare Department alone. Various government departments and agencies, including the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM), Skill Development Department, Industries and Commerce Department and Urban Development Department, are also conducting training programmes for members of the community.

In a supplementary query, Das Paul called for the government to widen the scope of skill development programmes and create stronger avenues for trained youths to secure employment or establish sustainable livelihoods.

She pointed out that while hundreds of SC youths had already benefited from such programmes, greater efforts were required to bring more members of the community under skill-based training and connect them with employment opportunities.

Responding to the demand, Minister Das said there was considerable scope to expand training for SC youths in different sectors and help them achieve financial independence.

He also referred to the Pradhan Mantri PM-AJAY Scheme, under which the department plans to undertake additional skill development initiatives. Das said a perspective plan covering the financial years 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30 had already been submitted to the Central Ministry.

The Minister explained that funds and programme sanctions under the scheme are approved on an annual basis. Once the Centre grants the necessary sanctions, the department will proceed with training the targeted number of SC youths.

The government, he said, intends to use such programmes to strengthen livelihood opportunities and enable more young people from the SC community to become economically self-reliant.