The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today concluded the two-day Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Zonal Conference-cum-Stakeholder Consultation and Progress Review Workshop at Symbiosis Skill & Professional University, Pune, reaffirming the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening inclusive, community-driven skilling and sustainable livelihood creation for last-mile populations.

Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the conference witnessed participation from 152 Jan Shikshan Sansthans representing 11 States and Union Territories. The event brought together JSS practitioners, senior officials of MSDE, the Directorate of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, representatives from NIESBUD and academic partners to review progress, deliberate on systemic improvements and build institutional capacity within the JSS ecosystem.

The conference was chaired by Secretary, MSDE, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Additional Secretary, MSDE, Shri Nirajan Kumar Sudhanshu and other senior MSDE Officials placing strong emphasis on strengthening employability, entrepreneurship and livelihood outcomes.

Addressing the conference, Ms. Debashree Mukherjee said, “Jan Shikshan Sansthans are central to inclusive skilling in India. Our focus is to move from training to real outcomes by strengthening alumni connect, aligning skills with market demand and supporting entrepreneurship through finance and market linkages. By modernising traditional skills and scaling success stories, we aim to ensure that grassroots skilling leads to sustainable livelihoods, dignity and empowerment for women and marginalised communities.”

Dedicated sessions on employability skills and entrepreneurship development were conducted by experts from the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) along with faculty from Symbiosis Skill & Professional University. The sessions were led by Dr. Poonam Sinha, Director General, NIESBUD and Dr. Swati Majumdar, Pro Chancellor, Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, who emphasised the importance of learner-centric skilling, enhanced work readiness and enterprise-oriented thinking at the grassroots level.

Recognising the critical role of financial inclusion in livelihood sustainability, a focused session on financial and credit linkages was organised with experts from Central Bank of India and NIESBUD. The session underscored the need for stronger bank linkages, financial literacy and structured support systems to enable JSS beneficiaries to convert skills into sustainable income opportunities.

In addition to thematic deliberations, the conference featured sessions on the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in skilling delivery, governance reforms, SIDH portal compliance, strengthening of Livelihood Cells and improving branding and market access for JSS products.

A JSS exhibition was organised as part of the conference, showcasing select best products developed by JSS beneficiaries from across regions. The exhibition highlighted the diversity of grassroots skills and local crafts nurtured under the scheme and provided a platform for sharing best practices and enhancing market visibility. The Secretary, MSDE, also visited the Skill Labs at Symbiosis Skill & Professional University, gaining exposure to modern training infrastructure and innovative approaches to vocational education.

The stakeholder consultations and group deliberations during the workshop focused on reviewing the physical and financial progress of JSSs during the current financial year, improving training quality, strengthening employability and entrepreneurship outcomes, enhancing credit and market linkages, and addressing governance and operational challenges.

The Jan Shikshan Sansthan Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme implemented by MSDE through non-governmental organisations, focuses on providing vocational skills in non-formal mode to non-literate, neo-literate individuals, school dropouts and disadvantaged sections of society, with special emphasis on women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities and other marginalised groups. The scheme plays a critical role in delivering doorstep skilling and livelihood support in rural, tribal, aspirational and difficult areas, and has trained more than 34 lakh beneficiaries as of December 2025, with women accounting for over 83 per cent of total participation.

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to further strengthen Jan Shikshan Sansthans as the Government of India’s last-mile skilling institutions, ensuring that skills lead not only to employment and income, but also to dignity, resilience and inclusive growth.

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