Use of Distributed Ledger Technology & Blockchains in Program Monitoring: The Case of Indian Skill Development Ecosystem

Abstract

India riding on its demographic advantage will account for more than half of the increase in Asia’s workforce in the coming decade, but this isn’t just a story of more workers. These new workers will have to be much better trained than the existing workforce. For India to reap the dividends of its demographic potential, there is an urgency to equip the youth with necessary skills. Though Skill India outlines this national priority, the outcomes of the public funded skill development efforts have witnessed variance in outcomes with quality being the key concern. Effective monitoring could potentially address many of these challenges but M&E of skill development programs in India suffers from weak data validation processes and lacks technology enablement. This working paper discusses the data requirement for effective monitoring and aims at initiating a dialogue on the case for Distrusted Ledger Technology (DLT) and blockchain enabled monitoring in the Indian Skill Development Ecosystem.