A Paper

by

D.S.Bist, IPS

Chairman, Maulan Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS)

&

Joint Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of Minority Affairs

Addressing Issues of Credibility and Quality in Skill Development Programmes – An Innovative – Online based, Real-time Monitoring & Evaluation Framework (M&EF)

I. It is a well-known fact that India enjoys a huge demographic dividend, due to it’s young population and it is equally a well-known fact, that there is an urgency to harness it quickly, within a small time frame, before it withers away and leads to a major national crisis of having huge unskilled, semi-skilled workforce, in the coming decade. Government of India’s major emphasis on Skilling India and Skilled India outlines this concern, as only 4% of the workforce is skilled in the country. Almost more than a decade has passed, ever since this realization has taken place and as a result series of hurried & varied attempts have been made for upscaling and speeding-up, State led Skill Development Efforts, in the country. The results of these efforts have been equally varied and outcomes have not come up-till required level. Keeping in view the large number of people, in need for Skilling, most of the Ministries, Departments, Training Organizations and all other Stakeholders at Central & State Level, have already identified the areas of weakness in skill development/ Upgradation – Ecosystem, and the urgent need to address them quickly, to ensure success of national efforts in this area.
Effective monitoring and evaluation is the corner stone for the success of all the skills training programmes and achievement of desired goals from them. The weaknesses in Monitoring & Evaluation has pushed back the effects of outcomes of many skill development/ upgradation programmes. The most significant adverse impact will be in terms of increasing cynicism and disillusionment of the young population (particularly minority youth) of the country with the existing system, which is unable to provide them, sustainable livelihoods in terms of required numbers and also at the required pace, to meet their needs and aspirations. This makes them vulnerable to all harmful influences, which can assume alarming shape, in context of increasingly fissiparous and dysfunctional trends of Left Wing Extremism and terrorist activities.

This paper attempts to establish need and procedure for setting up Online based real time Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (M&EF) for large skill training providers, having Pan-India foot print, in the emerging Skill Development Eco-System, under the Government of India’s direction and control. It is an appropriate case study for other Govt. of India organizations and schemes working in the field of Skill Development/ Upgradation, as Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) was established initially by NMDFC (less than two years ago) as a non-profit Government Society under Societies Registration Act 1860. At the time of its establishment, PMO had given directions to Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) to ensure that MANAS evolves on the basis of policy guidelines and framework of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and is in conformity with the emerging skills eco-systems as envisaged by Govt. of India. The challenge and constraints faced in establishing, operating and having an effective Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and upscaling the operations of MANAS, are the same as being faced by all similar organizations in the present day Skills Space, in the country.

II. Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) is a Special Purpose Vehicle, established under the aegis of Ministry of Minority Affairs on 11/11/2014, on the eve of 125^th Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the First Education Minister of India. It is dedicated to meet all Skill Development/Up-gradation needs of marginalised sections of Minority communities in the country, by establishing an All India level Framework based upon Public Private Partnership Mode, with training providers of National Level/ International Level for the purpose of providing quality skills training, for those Skill sets, which are in demand. MANAS is a policy intervention of Ministry of Minority Affairs to achieve Government’s goal of – “Skilling India” leading to achievement of vision of Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikas, by providing meaningful and sustainable livelihood options, in terms of self-employment/wage employment opportunities to all minority communities, with primary focus on self-employment.It has entered into a comprehensive MoU with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and large number of Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), major Trade/Industry organisations and other stakeholders in the field of Skill Development. In a short span of less than one and half year, MANAS has established an extensive All India network of its over 400 Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs), covering 30 States and 3 UTs to provide Skills Training in more than 35 Skill Sectors. The training framework is in the process of constant evolution & growth, as per demands for skill sets, for people  belonging to minority communities.

III. Social Innovations in Skill Development Ecosystem – for Minority Communities

In order to serve its target group effectively, in terms of Skill Development/Up-gradation training, MANAS has designed innovative Skill Development programmes keeping in view the specific needs, requirements as well as socio-economic conditions of its target groups. In fact, social innovation in skilling space for the benefit of Minority Communities has been its main USP. It has been able to build “tailor-made Skill Development Programmes, aimed at specific target groups, amongst minority communities, to ensure its effective and efficient delivery of Skill Training Programmes along with its outcomes. This has enlisted support and cooperation of minority communities, for government’s efforts for promoting Skill Development/ Skill Upgradation, leading to their mainstreaming and consequent– “Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikas”
a. MANAS has initiated an innovative scheme of linking Traditional Educational Institutions of Minority communities like Madrasas, Christian Missionary Institutions and Educational Institutions of Sikh and Buddhist etc. to the Skill Development efforts of Government of India.
Under this innovative scheme, MANAS,  as on 30^th April, 2016, has already established collaboration with 31 Madrasas in 5 States viz. Bihar, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Assam covering 29,500 trainees in last ten months only. Madrasas have to provide required built-up area on voluntary basis, for setting up of latest state-of-art Skill Development Centres, by PIAs of MANAS. The training is imparted through the PIAs of MANAS, which are mostly training partners of NSDC/SSCs and other leading training providers in their own areas of their expertise, based upon tripartite MoU. The Madarsas Management Committee and local Community Leaders are taken on Board, as they are entrusted the work of advocacy, mobilization of trainees, and later day-to-day supervision and monitoring of the training programmes & outcomes. It provides widespread community support to this unique initiative, in the larger national interest also.
b. In another innovative Entrepreneurship & Skill Development Programme, MANAS has restructured its entire Skills Training programme around leading National/International experts in different skill sets. It has recently launched Skill Development Programme in Beauty & Wellness Sector by signing MoU with Ms. Shahnaz Husain and Shri Jawed Habib. Large number of trainees has been enrolled under this training programme in 5 States viz. Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. The market acceptance of these two Icons, as leaders in their respective skill sets, imparts large value to the training programme being run in collaboration with them. Their training practices and training centres, along with their brand names are used by MANAS, for training its target group and also for independent Third Party Certification i.e. using their names and photographs on the Certificates issued to the trainees, by MANAS.

IV. Need for Monitoring and Evaluation of Training – the biggest hurdle faced by MANAS was in terms of having an effective comprehensive Monitoring & Evaluation Framework to establish its brand value, as providers of high quality and credible skills training with full transparency.MANAS is a newly established organisation (less than 2 years old), which functions with bare minimum number of contractual staff and few officers on deputation. It does not have the requisite human resources/financial resources to intensively monitor each and every training programmes, which are going on, at multiple locations, all over India, and are in different stages of implementation.

Monitoring and supervision of MANAS training programme becomes even more complicated due to the short duration of actual training. Most of the training programme of MANAS, till now, have been in between 240 hours to 550 hours of training, which are normally imparted in less than ‘6’ months from the day of actual commencement of programme. Therefore, it becomes extremely difficult to get physical inspection/monitoring done in such a short time, by dispatching multiple inspection teams at different locations in the country.  Even state/Local Govt. Agencies and their officials are unable to physically inspect on-going training programmes quickly at the short notice. Also the inherent drawbacks of relying only on physical inspections are by now, well known in Skilling Eco system.

As of now, network of training centres of various PIAs of MANAS has acquired an All India dimension, with most of them concentrated in States having significant minority population as under:

S. No.	Name of the State	Locations within State	Status of  Training
In FY 2014 –15  Trained
1	Uttar Pradesh	Shaharanpur, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Allahabad, Bijnaur, Bulandsahar, Deoria, Hardoi, Muradabad, Najibabad, Siddhartha Nagar	979
2	Maharashtra	Andheri, Bandra, Chandiwali, Ghatkopar, Kurla Mumbai	1,550
4	Telangana	Dilsukhnagar, Karimnagar, Medak, Mehboob Nagar, Warangal, Hyderabad & Kurnool	2,060
5	Andhra Pradesh	Ananthapuram, Chirala, Chittoor, Guntur, Visakhapattanam, Vijyanagar,	2,060
5	Delhi NCR	Loni, Bawana, Nangloi, Guldhar	139
Sub Total		6,788
In FY 2015 – 16, till date  Allocated
1	Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow, Lakhimpur, Mau, Bedaub, Baghpat, Bulandsahar, Mujaffarnagar, Shaharanpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur	10,950
2	Maharashtra	Bhandup, Bandra,	4,900
3	Delhi NCR	Zakirnagar, Abulfazal, Dariaganj, Ghaziabad	4,147
4	Jammu & Kashmir	Anantnag, Srinagar, Sopour, Baramula,	8,600
5	Tamilnadu	Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Theni, Thiruvanamalai, Tiruvanveli, Thoothukudi	966
6	Punjab	Zirakpur, Bhatinda, Patiala, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Mohali, Mansa, Ablu, Sangrur, Heronkala, Kurlian	5,878
7	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal	2,000
8	Jharkhand	Ranchi	2,000
9	Telangana	Hyderabad	2,500
10	Assam	Nagaon, Chaingaon, Guwahati	7,200
11	Karnataka		2,500
12	Bihar	Patna, Motihari, Keshariya	6,200
Sub Total			57,841
Grand Total			64,629

 

The above table shows clearly the vast geographical spread of the training programme of MANAS, covering the entire length and breadth of the country including remote and in-accessible areas. Most of its training programmes are conducted in minority concentration areas, having poor infrastructure and connectivity which makes them more difficult from monitoring point of view.

Some of the key programmes of MANAS are being implemented within the socio-educational and religious framework of minority institutions such as setting up of skill development centres in Madrasas, where type of Monitoring & Evaluation System needs to be in consonance with the socio-religious and cultural ethos of the Minority Communities.

Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship is in the process of providing a standardised training framework not only for training, but also for the monitoring and evaluation of the training programme.  It is a key component without which quality and credibility of training programme cannot be established and it is imperative for MANAS has to have a credible Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, meeting Standards and Norms set by Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India.

V. Framework
Realising the overarching importance of an effective and comprehensive Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, MANAS started the process of setting it up, in-house based, on its practical day-to-day problems and challenges faced by it and in terms of solutions for implementing and monitoring of ongoing training programmes. This was done to circumvent all physical/financial and time constraints, in establishing such an club-work and comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. This framework was developed simultaneously, in consonance with the continuous improvements in operational strategy for implementation of its training programmes.

In the initial phase – November 2014 to 31^st March 2015, MANAS used very elementary implementation, monitoring and evaluation framework. The ‘2’ Pilot Pr ojects were given to Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) of MANAS on the basis of recommendations of the concerned Sector Skill Councils, at a very low cost amounting to Rs.10,000/- for 170 hrs training duration. Inspections were done physically, as both the trainings were held in NCR region. 350 number of trainees were trained under Pilot Project in the trades of General Duty Assistance and Unarmed Security Guards. Though both the trainings were successful but the training of General Duty Assistant did not lead to provision of wage-employment, due to lack of interest of trainees themselves.

Subsequently, in F.Y. 2015-16, MANAS changed its strategy based upon the experience of Pilot Projects. Training duration was raised from 170 Hours to 240 Hours accordingly the training cost was also revised to Rs.14,000/-. Allocation of training was also done more systematically by making entire process of allocations of training through online framework of MANAS. The screening committee comprising of experts from the field of skill development and were associated with the planning and execution of skill development programmes in various sectors and representative from organizations like NSDC/NIESBUD/NSIC were taken on board. The PIAs were required to complete the “Online Forms of MANAS” at various stages of the training programme and its outcome. MANAS Online Application Forms System provides an effective indicator to monitor the progress of training programme at every stage and also define milestones to be achieved for release of payment to the training partners.

In order to make its system, online driven, MANAS started collecting the detailed information and documents about its PIA’s, like it’s prior work experience, financial details, Human Resources, existing centre infrastructure, technical and academic competence etc. in the prescribed Application Format (Called Form – 1) for the empanelment as Project Implementing Agency under MANAS. Form-I of MANAS captures a 360⁰ view of it’s potential training partners. This is the first overview of PIAs based upon information provided by them along with the self-declaration affidavits, on non-judicial Stamp Paper, in order to reduce time, effort & money and simplify the procedures. MANAS accepts the entire information On-line based upon self-certification/self-authentication of all required documents, at the time of filling up On-line Form-I. The entire process is done on-line through the interactive portal of MANAS i.e. www.manassd.ind.in. PIAs become partner of MANAS and become eligible to participate in the bidding process of MANAS, for getting training work allotted to them. This is done by them in response to web-notice of MANAS for training allocation. After screening, the Physical inspections are done only before the actual award of training programme to PIA, at a later stage. By filling-up of FORM-I, PIA’s become part of the universe of PIAs, who are already connected to MANAS and will be allowed to submit their proposals in response to the ‘Bid’ of MANAS, for allocation of Skill Development targets. This reduces time and effort of both PIA’s and MANAS, in selecting most suitable PIA, for conducting Skill Development Programme of MANAS in short time.

The Entrepreneurship and Skill Development (E&SDP) Programme of MANAS is driven by the policy decision taken by MANAS in consultation with Ministry of Minority Affairs. The State/Region where E&SDP has to be conducted, once decided by MANAS sets the process in motion. An advertisement in the form of Website Notice is posted on the website of MANAS. Since MANAS interacts with its PIAs, who have already been empanelled, by duly filling up Form-I. It is expected that PIAs will see and respond to its website advertisement in short time depending on the operational requirement of MANAS. Notice period is kept short mainly as only all empanelled PIAs can participate by using their Form-I already filled-up, or by amending it. They are only expected to use assigned Form – 1 or modify and change their Form-I, and not do the entire process of empanelment again. This ensures that only serious and already empanelled PIA’s bid for getting training programme of MANAS. Since the cost of training per candidate is fixed for the programme, the competition will primarily take place in terms of non-price parameters which would amongst other parameter also include quality of the training institutions in terms of its human resources, training equipments, quality of the Centres in the State/Region, past performance under the training programmes of MANAS/ MOMA/ any other Government/ Semi-Government agency and its ability to implement any innovative E&SDP of MANAS. The entire process of screening and selection of PIAs will be done On-line in future, to the extent possible, to make it even more transparent and credible. It involves various stages of screening along with involvement of other outside stakeholders, apart from MANAS, in their screening and final selection. The following process is being used as of now, for screening the proposals (i.e. Form – I, or modified Form – I in response to web advertisement of MANAS).
1. The Technical Scrutiny of the proposals of PIA by Project Monitoring Unit of MANAS.
2. Screening Committee Meeting for Identification of eligible PIAs for Field Inspection.
3.Field Inspection of eligible PIA’s training centres of eligible PIAs recommended by the Screening Committee, done by composite teams (to the extent possible).
4. Steering Committee meeting for awarding of work to the eligible PIAs on the basis of field inspection and technical scrutiny.
5. On the basis of recommendation of Steering Committee Letter of Intent (LOI) to be issued to the eligible PIAs.
6. In response to the Letter of Intent generated by MANAS for launching a particular kind of Skills Training, the PIAs are expected to submit their acceptance in writing by signing each page of LOI.
7. On the basis of Acceptance Letter of PIA, MANAS will issue the Sanction Order to PIA for imparting E&SDP of MANAS.
8. After issue of Sanction Order to the PIA, MANAS will provide access of Form No – II, PIA will upload training centre infrastructure details as per NCVT/SSC/Third party agency or any other leading industry body along with the centre approval certificate. These centres will be used exclusively for conducting E&SDP of MANAS, during the schedule time for MANAS training.
9. PIA will also sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MANAS for executing the Skill Development Programme in the areas/regions and skill sets allocated to the PIA as per Sanction Order.
10. After successful submission of Form – II and signing of MoU with MANAS, PIA will be given access to fill the Form No – III at the time of commencement of the training programmes.
Online based Monitoring and Evaluation of Training.
11. Installation of Live CCTV Cameras along with Static IP for live CCTV monitoring of ongoing training programme. The PIAs are also directed to link the CCTV Cameras through web link in case there is a delay in getting the Static IP, or non-working of static IPs to ensure the uninstructed live feed of training programme.
12. Installation of GPS enabled Bio-metric devices at the training centres to capture live daily attendance of trainers and trainees. The attendance of trainees and trainers will be saved on MANAS portal in real time automatically. The entire finger print data with names of trainees/trainers, are transferred to the server of MANAS for further crosschecking.
13. Configuration of GPS enabled Bio-metric Devices to the MANAS Portal and GIS mapping of training centres on Google Map. The training centres mapped through GPS enabled bio-metric devices can be easily tracked and located at Google Map by clicking on the Location Indicator.
14. MANAS is in process of linking trainee’s the Adhar details with Bio-metric device for the cross verification of the trainees identity. It will reflect all the details of the person, giving bio-metric attendance, figure print as recorded in data bank of AADHAAR, which can be cross-checked with the name and details of the trainee as entered in admission form of the trainee.

15. Copy of certified course content/ course curriculum/ time table for proposed trades in soft and hard format.
16. MANAS has developed online format for submission of Session Plan, day wise/ hours wise clearly indicating the theoretical training duration, practical (Lab) training duration and dedicated hours for On the Job training (OJT). Using this, any Live Training Centre of MANAS, can be identified from Google Map through its GIS Co-ordinates and access the cameras and bio-metric attendance by following steps.
Operational Guidelines for login to the Monitoring & Evaluation Framework of MANAS to access –
CCTV Live Cameras –

• Please use Internet Explorer 10.0 or above to view CCTV footage
• On opening Internet Explorer, please do the following:
  • Settings > Internet Options > Security > Internet Zone > Custom Level
  • Please enable all options under ActiveX Controls & Plug-ins.

• Similarly for Settings > Internet Options > Security > Local Intranet > Custom Level. Please enable all options under ActiveX Controls & Plug-ins.

• Click on Apply and then Ok.

• After the above settings, kindly restart the browser
• Click on Center Location – GIS for getting Centre Location on Google MAP.
• Click on GIS coordinate to get the access for Live CCTV Cameras.
• Click on “Live CCVT Cameras” which will further direct to a new pop-up for Web Link or Static IP Address along with User id and Password.
• Click on Weblink/ Static IP Address and fill the user id and password details for live CCTV footage from training centres.
• Live CCTV footage will now be visible for the selected centre.

Bio-metric Attendance –

• Click on GIS coordinate to get the access for Bio-metric Attendance.
• Click on “Bio-metric Attendance” which will redirect to a new page with details of PIAs and centre name. Select centre name & date and click on “Search” button to get the biometric attendance.
• Biometric Attendance will be visible on same page.

Time Table –

• Click on Batch Time Table to get the details of training classes and timings.
• Please select Organization Name, centre, course, batch from dropdown list and click on search option to get the ongoing training time table.
• Time Table will be visible now.

*Please refer to Annexure – B for more details
17. PIAs are directed to submit the advance time table, minimum for 21 days before start of the training programme in line with session plan submitted online. Advance time table will also be uploaded on the MANAS portal, through which real time ongoing training can be monitored e.g. total number of hours covered in practical training, total number of hours covered in theoretical training. It provides for real time tracking of progress of the training, during the course.
18. Copy of localized survey conducted by PIA with specific out comes on skill gaps and skill requirements, details of minority community member, already engaged in their own business or willing to setup their business.
19. PIAs are expect to do initial mobilisation and submit the tentative list of beneficiaries in MANAS prescribed MIS format (Similar to Skill Development Management System (SDMS) Format of NSDC) along with Aadhar No., Bank Account Details, (if Not available – PIA will get a Bank account open for each trainee under PM Jan Dan Yojana), email id of trainees (if trainee does not has the email id, PIA will help them creating a new email id and submit to the MANAS)
20. A base line Socio Economic Survey of the trainees is to be filled up and transferred online to MANAS database, for conducting impact assessment of the training and further “Tracer Studies”. It provides very big and rich source of data on trainees of MANAS.
21. The training programme is being monitored through Live CCTV cameras by the PMU of MANAS, CCTV screen shots are being captured and maintained in separate file. These screen shots can be crosschecked and verified after collecting the CCTV Recording backup on hard drive (CD/DVD/Pen-drive/Hard-disc) on the completion of the training, assessment and certification.

22. Assessment & Certification is being conducted jointly by MANAS and SSC/NCVT in the presence of representative from SSC/NCVT one external independent invigilators appointed by MANAS or representative from MANAS. Deepak to give details of NSDC – Centralised unique number of ID of MANAS.
23. The entire certification is being captured through live CCTV cameras, and also by videography, by the Third Party Examiners.
24. PIA are bound to place minimum of 75% trainees out of total trained in self-employment/wage-employment ventures on the basis of the requirements of the local market conditions with primary focus on self-employment within 90 days from the date of certification.
25. All the students who complete the course will be registered with Post Placement Tracking cell and PIA do handholding of the trained beneficiaries for setting up of their business enterprises after availing concessional credit from financial institutions like NMDFC, Mudra Bank etc. The tracking of trainees will be done for a minimum of 12 months from the date of placement of the trainees in self/wage employment. (A separate paper on post placement/self-employment support to MANAS trainees through its call centres “Karobari Salahiyat” and linking them to e-marketing is being written.)

Annexure – A which shows detailed process flow of E&SDP of MANAS

The Monitoring and Evaluation framework of MANAS uses cutting-edge of information technology to impart quality, transparency and credibility to its training programme. All training programmes are covered by real time CCTV footage uploaded on the website of MANAS on real-time basis for the purpose of monitoring, supervision & course correction as well as for maintenance of records. GPS enabled bio-metric attendance machines are used for capturing attendance of trainers and trainees, on the website of MANAS. The actual training programme can be seen not only by MANAS but also by other stakeholders including the ones, who have provided funds to MANAS for undertaking training.

Third Party Certification by Sector Skill Council is being done and a Joint Certificate is issued by MANAS and concerned Sector Skill Councils, to provide market acceptance and credibility to the entire training programme. MANAS Skill Certificates also have tamper proof QR Code/Security sticker, based on 16 fields, used under the licence of NSDC, which also acts as an Authentic Identify Proof, not only of the trainee but also for the training undertaken by the trainee. The outcome of the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (E&SDP) of MANAS is to provide sustainable livelihood to its trainees. Atleast 75% of the trainees, are necessarily placed either in wage-employment or self-employment with greater emphasis on self-employment. The trainees are given link to concessional credit through National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) and other financial institutions like MUDRA Bank, etc. Also, they can set up their own business ventures thereby leading to further growth in terms of income and employment in the marginalised sections of minority communities.

• VI. Salient Features
  Government of India has been promoting the use of ICT and other related technologies, for monitoring and evaluation of the schemes/projects/programmes and its outcomes. Use of technology based monitoring system is a systemic requirement of MANAS due to structural bottlenecks in MANAS as mentioned above. Some of the direct outcomes of Monitoring & Evaluation Framework of MANAS, are:

 

1. It provides highly transparent, credible, scalable, economical, speedy and almost leak proof Monitoring Framework, by extensive use of Real Time CCTV Cameras on ongoing training as they are conducted in real time.
2. National GIS (Geo-Spatial Information System) mapping of all Live & operational skill development centers in available on Google Map, in public domain.
3. Use of GPS Enabled Biometric to capture the attendance of trainees and trainers on daily basis and get it uploaded on MANAS portal in real time. It will, in future, get cross-checked with AADHAR DATA BANK to rule out impersonation.
4. Cloud based data center for data collection, processing and transmission of data related to admissions, supervision, monitoring, examination, certification, placement tracking etc. to ensure credibility and transparency. This database is being linked to the database of all stakeholders, in Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Labor & Employment, Ministry of Rural Development etc. apart from being transferred to the funding agencies.
5. Using transaction based online solutions – MANAS has developed transaction based online solutions where training progress can be monitored by capturing real time progression of training. PIAs are required to upload the session plan and batch wise time table before start of the training to ensure the real time monitoring and allow for course correction, of training while it is still going on.
6. The entire activities related to skill training of MANAS has been broken into segment/stages inter-linked to each other from planning, execution, evaluation & post placement tracking, and capture all the information/documents activities through ‘7 stage’ online application software. PIA can only move from first stage to next one after completely filling up the previous application form in all respects followed by its scrutiny and approval by MANAS Project Management Unit (PMU). The following stages are being covered under this 7 stage online application form –
   1. Stage – 1 – Pre training stage – for registration & empanelment of PIAs with MANAS
   2. Stage – 2 – Selection of PIAs for imparting the skill training programme

• Stage – 3 – Commencement of the Training Programme

• Stage – 4 – Mid-term inspections, and training progress
• Stage 5 – Completion of the training programme and organizing third party assessment of trained trainees.
• Stage 6 – Certification of trainees and placement both – Self/wage employment.

• Stage 7 – – Post Placement Tracking/Handholding and Completion of Project.

• Effective indicator for progress of training programme, facilitating release of payment to the training partners as per stages of work completion
• Link of Live CCTV footage and real Bio-metric attendance can be given in public domain as MyGov platforms, and the Link can be given to all the stakeholders, to keep an eye, on Live Training Programme.
• Processing and monitoring data, on MANAS portal, is a rich trove of information regarding training programme which can be used for data mining and big data analysis for policy formulations, impact assessment etc. by various stakeholders.
• It provides Interactive Reports and Data Publishing and collaborative access to all the concerned stakeholders.
• This online monitoring system is much more cost effective than other monitoring and database management systems. It is need based highly scalable monitoring system in terms of expansion of Storage Capacity on Cloud.
• It is synergized with physical and field inspections (at least 3 times) to make it fully comprehensive. It ensures that weaknesses of both the modes of monitoring & supervision i.e. Online and physical are plugged by each other’s strength, thereby making it most comprehensive Monitoring & Evaluation Framework for skills training.
• Monitoring & Evaluation Framework of MANAS has been very effective in bridging the “Digital Divide” and promoting ICT. MANAS has made it mandatory for all its PIAs, to install, operate and use ICT based system for reporting progress of training of MANAS, Online Training centers of MANAS in remote and far flung areas, from Leh (Ladakh) in North & North East, South and Western Regions are using this Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, making it as a technology demonstrator at grass-root level. It has raised profile of MOMA and Govt. of India in Local for flung areas.

Apart from the training centers, trainees, under all programmes are getting hands on experience, with latest ICT – in terms of CCTV cove rage, its transmission, bio-metric attendance, setting up of their E-mail IDs and Online interaction with PIAs & MANAS. They are also given a separate training module, on Computer & Soft Skills. They are being motivated to use not only their E-mail IDs for giving their views to MANAS, but also actively use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. and from MANAS alumnis, peer group, to post important developments, on their career fronts.

• It can be used as a standard template for monitoring and evaluation of Skill Development Programme being implementing at all India level.
  2. MANAS has established and implemented On-line based Real time Online Monitoring & Evaluation Framework successfully for monitoring of the ongoing skill training programme at a very low cost.
  3. By using it effectively, MANAS has been able to implement all instruction/directions issued by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship by its interactive website comprehensively.
  4. This mechanism is very comprehensive, covers all aspects of monitoring and evaluation of skill development programme from the classroom training to employment and Post Placement Support.
  5. MANAS is probably the only organisation of its kind, under Govt. of India, which adheres to the entire Skill Development Architecture of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Hence, the problems and challenges faced by MANAS, in implementation of its training programmes, and monitoring them, would be the same, as faced by other organisations and schemes.
  6. MANAS Monitoring & Evaluation Framework has been developed in house, based on day-to-day practical problems and their solutions, and has come to a stage, where it can be evaluated by an independent Third Party, to assess its technical efficacy, effectiveness and outcomes in time bound manner, hence, it can also be replicated by similar organisations.

It is needless to add that MANAS, as an organisation, is still evolving and coming up with new & innovative strategies for Skill Development of its target group. Hence, Monitoring & Evaluation Framework of MANAS, will also evolve for greater efficiency & reliability in future, underlining its pre-dynamic nature.

Copyright with founding Chairman,MANAS,Ministry of Minority Affairs
Dinesh Singh Bist