Research at GRAAM

Project COVIReach: Control and management of COVID -19 -Perception of different stakeholders in the community

Has been designed as an action-research program across the seven GPs of Mysuru taluk. It examines the role of the Gram Panchayats, Task Force and ASHA workers, while evaluating the Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of the  community in the prevention of the disease. The research leans on understanding the project to formulate policy recommendations for a wider uptake of appropriate COVID19 measures in the rural areas.

 Implementation of COVIReach at GP level looks at  hurdles for the  implementation of  the programme, effectiveness and interviews with the key informants. COVID management is evaluated by studying the role of ASHA workers in creating awareness, professional and personal challenges faced during COVID management, measures taken by the panchayats to control the spread of second wave through In-depth interviews. Covid awareness among the public is studied to understand the challenges faced by the community  in obtaining the right health tips and access to facilities. The section also evaluates the role of COVIReach project  in overcoming those challenges through  in-depth interviews with the COVID affected people and the youth groups.

 Using structured questionnaires, baseline data has been collected through field visits and over the phone and endline data collection is to begin shortly.

Demonstrating Community Monitoring and Social Audit mechanisms for Health and Wellness Centres in Jharkhand

Demonstrating Community Monitoring and Social Audit mechanisms for Health and Wellness Centres in Jharkhand — is an ongoing project, in collaboration with Jhpiego with an objective to create Jan Arogya Samiti (JAS) at the SHC level, increase the uptake of RMNCH+A, family planning, and TB services. GRAAM is working with Srijan Foundation for implementation across 35 SHC HWCs in Khunti and West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. GRAAM research team initiated a situational analysis study to understand the present status of HWC, community response, and socio-physical barriers, using which it has created a feasibility matrix for shortlisting the SHCs suitable to conduct the intervention. Based on the client’s feedback, community monitoring framework and situational analysis has been finalised. Likewise, a modified project monitoring framework, health planning manual, health plan template, and health visioning tool has been submitted by the research team to Project Lead. With the COVID19 restrictions lifted in Jharkhand, the project team will start data collection in the field.

Impact Evaluation of CMKKY and PMKVY in Karnataka

Karnataka Skill Development Corporation has engaged GRAAM to carry out an impact evaluation of CMKKY and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) in select districts of Karnataka. The study majorly focused on the impact of the schemes on youth, and availability of skilled workers in the study area. The under-evaluation Skill Certification Schemes are aimed to enable and mobilize a large number of Indian youth to take up skill training and become employable and earn respectable livelihoods.

PMKVY is implemented by National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) under the guidance of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It is the flagship outcome-based Skill Training Scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). CMKKY was similarly announced in 2016-17, with the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) created to run this scheme. CMKKVY, aims to create 5 lakh skilled youth annually, with 2.50 lakh during five years of tenure with the support of various government departments and government bodies. Major components of the scheme include skill training, employment, entrepreneurship, livelihood and apprenticeship.

The study was conducted in six districts of Karnataka (Raichur, Yadgir, Dharwad, Shivomagga, Dakshina Kannada and Ramanagar). The data collection for this study was done in the six districts between March-April using three components of – Beneficiary Survey Questionnaire, Non-Beneficiary Survey Questionnaire, and In-depth Interviews and Focus Group Discussions with the key stakeholders. With data analysis in progress, the report is expected to be submitted to KSDC for its due consideration in the month of September.

During our study in Yadgir, what we noticed was that the beneficiaries enrolled for different courses didn't know how they could use the skills in their district. They couldn't visualise using the skill for employment purposes. The industries set up in Yadgir were largely rice mills, rail coach factories, pharmaceuticals, etc. These industries don't directly relate to the learning of skills like Spoken English or Computers, largely. This also directly explains their attitude of negligence towards pursuing education.

 Skill Gap study in Karnataka

Karnataka has an opportunity of achieving faster economic growth due to favourable demographic dividend by promoting skill development of the general working population, and youth in particular. Skill Development is imperative for Karnataka at the moment as the state aspires to be the choice of destination for the Skilled Human Capital. However, there is a huge gap between the ‘Skill Acquired’ and the ‘Skill Required’. One of the major suggestions in the Karnataka Skill Vision Document 2025 is to have proper information on the Labour Market Situation at the District level. At present, we do not have a major comprehensive study done at the district level for understanding the skill gap. Hence, GRAAM has been engaged to take up such a study by Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) in three districts – Raichur, Yadgir, and Ramanagara as a pilot initiative. This study will pave the way for taking up similar and larger studies covering each of the districts. Results and estimates of this study will also give scientific evidence to the department for planning future skill development initiatives.

GRAAM team, with the support of its local partners in the three districts, is in the process of data collection for the project. The data collection has three primary stakeholder groups engaging in the Quantitative Survey – Youth in the age group of 16-35 years who have studied till 12th standard and are residing in their village, youth who are attending degree college pursuing BA, B.Sc., and B.Com. (both groups of youth are those who have not undergone any job oriented skill training and make up the supply side) and fifty industries from each district (this makes up demand side). While the qualitative survey includes select primary stakeholders, along with secondary stakeholders such as Panchayat Development Officer, CEO Zilla Panchayat, Personnel of Agriculture Department, Animal and Husbandry Department, and Horticulture Department, Joint Director – District Industries Centre, Personnel of Khadi and Village Industries Board, etc. They all form part of reflexive in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the primary data collection could not be carried out in the designated districts. The study hence has been attributed an extended timeline for the same, with data collection to proceed in the month of July following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions. 

Our researchers says that Importance should be given to identify and check the demand and supply of skills from the local perspective. Since most of the households depend upon agriculture importantly, there is a presence of seasonal migration where people depend on external employment opportunities only during the non-agricultural seasons largely. Hence, there was a lapse in connect between the skills offered in the region and its translation in opportunities related to the skills.