Factors Hindering Professional Skills and Entrepreneurship among Unemployed Youth from Backward Classes in Rural Areas, and the Need for Social Work Intervention

In the current era, India envisions becoming a developed nation by the year 2047. With this objective in mind, various policies are being implemented at the national level. However, in rural areas, when individuals attempt to establish businesses to foster their own development, they frequently encounter numerous challenges across social, economic, and political spheres. In India, youth belonging to Backward Classes (SC/ST/OBC) face historical and structural barriers regarding opportunities in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. This issue is particularly acute in rural regions. The objective of the present research is to examine the level of vocational skills among unemployed youth from Backward Classes, the socio-economic factors hindering entrepreneurship, and the necessity of social work interventions. The findings indicate that a lack of skills, social discrimination, financial constraints, and a dearth of guidance constitute the primary obstacles. These barriers can be overcome through social work interventions involving empowerment, training, and resource linkage.