SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth | SDG 4: Quality Education
Institutions: Ministry of Labour & Employment | Government of Uttar Pradesh
The Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education & Development (DTNBWED) under the Ministry of Labour & Employment has signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (UPBOCWWB) to skill 100,000 registered construction workers across 7 districts of UP in Phase 1. The program will later scale to 200,000 workers across the state.
Training follows a 120-hour program aligned to NCVET standards, with assessment and certification, and wage-loss compensation credited to participantsβ bank accounts. DTNBWED will implement training via partner agencies, using camp-based and on-site modules, biometric attendance, and a live digital dashboard for monitoring.
This is a strong example of formalizing skills in the informal construction sector, improving worker employability, and promoting social protection. The wage-loss compensation element is an important incentive to reduce dropouts. Scaling the model across states can help reduce informal-sector vulnerabilities and align with national skill and labour reforms.
What is DTNBWED (Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education & Development)β It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, India. Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Its core mandate is to run the Workers Education Scheme, aimed at raising awareness among workers (in organized, unorganized, rural sectors) and bringing behavioral change and worker empowerment. It operates through about 50 Regional Directorates across India.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can UP-DTNBWED model be expanded nationwide, and how can linkages be created between certified workers and formal employment opportunities?
Follow the full release here: PIB: DTNBWED & UPBOCWWB coalition for worker upskilling