The Dravidian model government’s ambitious Naan Mudhalvan skill development program is encountering increasing challenges. Initially launched to make youth “industry-ready” for entry-level employment, the scheme’s performance over the last three years has yielded inconsistent results especially in terms of actual job placements. While training numbers were initially high, a report by Times of India has revealed how poor placement outcomes have led to a decline in enrolments across most sectors, with only logistics, healthcare, and telecom maintaining steady interest.
Sharp Decline In Training Numbers (2023–2025)
- 2023: 1,35,137 trained
- 2024: 36,584 trained
- 2025: 11,865 trained
This drop reflects growing disillusionment with the scheme’s effectiveness. Out of a total 1.83 lakh candidates trained since 2023, only 75,850 secured placements a success rate of around 41%, leaving over 1.07 lakh candidates without jobs.
Training Vs. Employment Disconnect
While the scheme offers 1-to-6 month courses aiming to prepare candidates for blue-collar jobs, a surprising 60% of trainees in 2025 are UG or PG graduates. This reveals a mismatch between the qualifications of the trainees and the kind of jobs available after training.
Some sectors like logistics and geriatric care fared well. According to the report, 90% of logistics trainees were placed in roles like forklift operators, delivery personnel, and gig work. But sectors like beauty and wellness, tailoring, rubber work, aerospace, aviation, and textiles showed dismal results. The ToI report pointed out that in 2023, over 1,000 candidates were trained in aerospace, aviation, and textiles but none were placed. Similarly, only 67 out of 1,776 in the beauty and wellness stream found employment.
2024 Course Corrections
Faced with low placements, the state discontinued several underperforming courses in 2024, including those in gem and jewellery, paint and coating, and banking and financial services. Other sectors like power, handicrafts, and carpet making saw placement rates below 30%, while management training produced only 3 placements out of 1,948 candidates.
The crisis is also reflected in student engagement on 9 July, only 1,000 out of 5,000 active students attended training sessions, indicating just 20% attendance.
Accountability And Structural Issues
According to Naan Mudhalvan CEO M. Jayaprakasan, many initial training partners including small-scale entrepreneurs lacked the required infrastructure but still received government funds. “One tailoring centre had just two machines but admitted large batches,” he was quoted saying in ToI. The state has since begun stricter vetting of training institutes.
K.V. Rajkumar, project director at the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation, acknowledged issues with job offers too. “We withhold 40% of payment to training centres that fail to provide placements,” he said. However, he added that many students reject job offers because the salaries are too low or jobs are located far from home. “The pay is just ₹500 a day. Some trainees are only using this time to prepare for higher education and aren’t serious about placements,” he was quoted saying in the report.
Another problem is the geographical imbalance. Around 30% of all training partners are based in Chennai and its suburbs, limiting opportunities for students from other districts.
Few takers, fewer placements: Naan Mudhalvan’s scheme short term skilling courses runs into problems with number of people trained plummeting from 1.35 lakh people in 2023 to 36,584 in 2024 to just 11,865 in 2025.
Launched to train youth in job-ready skills across sectors like… pic.twitter.com/Q8Q4KBBXsc
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) July 11, 2025
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