Socio-Psychological Attributes of Rural Youth Trained under the STRY Programme by KVK-Kupwara in Kashmir Valley

Abstract

Skill development interventions are intended to strengthen the capacity of rural youth to apply knowledge and skills in income-generating activities. The present study assessed the socio-psychological attributes of rural youth trained under the Skill Training for Rural Youth (STRY) programme by KVK-Kupwara in the Kashmir Valley. The study focused on three selected enterprises: beekeeping, mushroom production and vermicomposting. A total of 108 trained beneficiaries were selected, comprising 65 unit holders and 43 non-unit holders. The unit holders included 30 beekeepers, 20 mushroom producers and 15 vermicompost producers, while the non-unit holders included 15 beekeeping trainees, 14 mushroom production trainees and 14 vermicomposting trainees. Data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The socio-psychological attributes considered were achievement motivation, learning motivation and motivation to transfer learning. The findings indicated that most unit holders across all three enterprises had high achievement motivation. Learning motivation was generally more favourable among unit holders than non-unit holders, although the level varied by enterprise. Motivation to transfer learning was mostly medium among unit holders, whereas non-unit holders generally showed lower levels. The results suggest that socio-psychological attributes are relevant in understanding why some trained rural youth establish income-generating units after training while others do not.