The Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation has been implementing various skill training and innovative scheme programs since 2015 to achieve the goal of Skilled Maharashtra, Employed Maharashtra. For this, this department organizes programs like vocational training required by the industrial sector through industrial training institutes in the state, along with short and long-term skill development training programs, guidance on employment and self-employment, employment fairs, startup yatra, startup bike, and challenge. For the implementation of this program, it is necessary to strengthen expert manpower and modern infrastructure.

In view of this fact, in order to provide financial assistance for the implementation of vocational education and skill development schemes in the state and strengthening of the necessary infrastructure for the same, the World Bank and the Government of Maharashtra have jointly decided to implement the Development of Applied Knowledge and Skill for Human Development (DAKSH) project in accordance with the detailed discussions held on 03 December 2021 between the World Bank and the concerned senior government officials under the chairmanship of the then Hon’ble Chief Secretary.

The Preliminary Project Report of the said project was submitted to the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Central Government for approval on 10th January, 2023 through the Finance Department, and has been approved in the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Central Government held on 27th February, 2023. Accordingly, for the planning and implementation, coordination, control and monitoring of the said project, a “Project Monitoring Committee”, “Project Implementation Organization” Government Decision No. JABAMPR-2023/PR.No. 06/Vyashi-4, dated 08/06/2023 and dated 18/12/2023. [The implementation of the project “Development of Applied Knowledge and Skills for Human Development-DAKSH” for strengthening the necessary infrastructure for vocational education and skill development in the state has been granted in principle and administrative approval has been given under ‘Government Decision No. Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Department, Government Decision No. Jabampr-2023/Pr.Kr. 06/Vyashi-4, dated 08/06/2023’.

The “DAKSH” project is estimated at Rs. 2307 crores and out of the total funds required for the implementation of the project, 70% (estimated Rs. 1615 crores) will be provided through a World Bank loan and the remaining 30% (estimated Rs. 692 crores) will be provided by the State Government. The major components of the “DAKSH” project have been approved as follows.

The duration of the “DAKSH” project is as follows.

As per the Government Decision dated 27/05/2024, two heads of accounts have been made available for the Daksh project. As per the Government Decision dated 06/09/2024, the Assistant Director (Accounts), Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Commissionerate, Navi Mumbai has been declared as the “Drawing and Disbursement Officer” and the Commissioner, Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Commissionerate, Navi Mumbai has been declared as the “Controlling Officer” for drawing funds for the project.

As per the government decision dated 25/11/2024, approval has been given to open a new account in the nationalized bank State Bank of India to deposit funds for the World Bank-assisted Daksh Project Scheme.

It has been informed in a letter dated February 5, 2025 from Auguste Tano Kauame, Country Director, India that the implementation of the Skilled Project Agreement and Loan Agreement between the State Government and the World Bank is commencing from February 5, 2025.

A total of 70 industrial training institutions have been selected in the state under the DAKSH project, including 44 general vocational training institutions, 12 girls’ vocational training institutions, 13 tribal vocational training institutions and 01 tribal ashram school.