Skilled, Shortlisted, and Stalled: What Happened to Maharashtra’s Germany Job Scheme?

Image Source: The Indian Express

A much-hyped scheme for overseas employment initiated by the government of Maharashtra in 2024 is bogged down in bureaucratic quicksand, leaving 7,500 shortlisted students high and dry and disillusioned. The scheme to train and employ brilliant Indian youths in Baden-Württemberg state in Germany has made no headway in close to 10 months, even after an MoU was signed and state-level enthusiasm.

What Was Promised

Government Decision (July 2024): ₹36 crore to train 10,000 students in German language at 400 institutions.
Training Scheme: 25 students per center with monthly stipends of ₹10,000 (urban) and ₹7,000 (rural).
Launch Ceremony: Inaugurated by then-Governor Ramesh Bais in Raj Bhavan in August 2024.
Student Reaction: More than 32,000 applicants; 7,500 selected for training in trades suitable to German employment market demand.

What Went Wrong

No Training Ever Began: German language classes booked in September 2024 never happened.
Post-Election Silence: The project came to an abrupt end after the Maharashtra assembly election without any proper statement.
Student Fallout: Most quit working or suspended studies waiting for the promise; now struggle with frustration and uncertainty.

Voices from the Ground

"The silence from the state has been frustrating. For so many of us, the project was a one-time opportunity to work abroad as skilled workers," a letter to officials from a student representative said.

Former education minister Deepak Kesarkar, who led the task force, has said that he has recently met Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and was asked to submit a proposal to initiate the programme. Officials say that the candidate list and training institutions are in place, but no deadline has been given.

Why It Matters

The delay not only threatens the careers of thousands of hopefuls but also India's global talent partnership credibility. The MoU was a template for state-driven international employment pipelines, and its derailment could have spill-over effects on future partnerships.

Sources: Hindustan Times, MSN