Shillong, Oct 05: A National Level Regional Workshop on the Integrated Kaushal Rural Portal under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) 2.0 was held on 5th October, 2026 at State Convention Centre, Shillong, Meghalaya, under the chairmanship of Smt. Jayasree M.G., Joint Secretary, Skills Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
The workshop brought together senior officials from Ministry of Rural Development, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Central Technical Support Agencies (CTSA) and representatives from nine State Rural Livelihood Missions/ State Skill Development Agencies—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura & West Bengal along with Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
The workshop focused on strengthening implementation of DDU-GKY 2.0 through digital monitoring and efficient delivery, covering mobilisation and selection, training infrastructure and due diligence, training, assessment and certification, placement and tracking, and fund release.
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Jayasree M.G, emphasised that the core objective of DDU GKY 2.0 is to provide rural youth with quality training linked to meaningful and sustainable employment.
She stressed strict compliance with SOPs, timely target allocation and removal of implementation delays, noting that the scheme is placement linked and that payment release is linked to placement outcomes. She called upon States and PIAs to ensure timely commencement of projects and completion.
She also called for effective mobilisation, identification of the right candidates and stronger engagement with industry, including captive employers. Highlighting the national importance of the scheme, she urged all stakeholders to work towards providing rural youth with sustainable livelihoods and greater economic mobility.
During the inaugural session, Shri S.C. Sadhu, IAS, Secretary, C&RD Department, Meghalaya, invited participants to explore Meghalaya and highlighted the growing mobility of youth from the Northeast.
Referring to young women from Meghalaya working in Madurai, he noted that apprehensions about moving outside the home State can sometimes limit opportunities.
He urged PIAs to sensitise and encourage youth to undertake training and explore employment outside their States for wider exposure and experience. He also called upon all stakeholders to work towards a common goal through cross-learning and sharing of experiences among participating States in such workshops.
The Chief Guest, Shri Sosthenes Sohtun, Minister, C&RD Department, Meghalaya, during his speech emphasised that the Integrated Kaushal Rural Portal should function as a dynamic tool for identifying delays, tracking dropouts and addressing placement bottlenecks in real time, rather than merely serving as a reporting platform.
He also called for greater focus on future-ready skills, including AI, Aviation and Management, alongside sectors such as Hospitality, Healthcare, Beauty and Textiles. The workshop featured policy and SOP guidance from MoRD and live demonstrations of the Integrated Kaushal Rural Portal by NIC and MoRD.
Participating States and PIAs were encouraged to flag challenges in terms of operational and portal related issues which were discussed in detailed and clarifications were provided by MoRD and NIC teams.
The workshop concluded with State-level discussions and reaffirmed the commitment of participating States and PIAs towards timely implementation, SOP compliance, digital monitoring, stronger placement outcomes and sustainable livelihoods for rural youth.
