Maharashtra government plans to allocate Rs 5,500 crore for internship program to provide stipends to unemployed youth

The Maharashtra government will allocate Rs 5,500 crore for the Mukhyamantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana, an internship program aimed at improving the employability and skills of unemployed youth, as announced in the 2024-25 Budget by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar.

During a public event in Pandharpur, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that the scheme will provide a stipend of Rs 6,000 for 12th pass individuals, Rs 8,000 for ITI and diploma holders, and Rs 10,000 for those with degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

According to the government resolution issued by the Department of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, which will implement the scheme along with the CM Public Welfare cell, eligible candidates must be Maharashtra residents aged 18 to 35. The internships will last six months, with stipends paid via direct bank transfer. Eligible industry and non-industry establishments must operate in Maharashtra, be registered on the Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation web portal as employers, have been established for three years, and be registered with EPF, ESIC, GST, DPIT, and Udyog Aadhaar, along with having a certificate of incorporation.

Pawar also announced that the scheme would provide training to 10 lakh youth annually, with stipends up to Rs 10,000 per month. Additionally, a scheme will train 50,000 youths each year to disseminate information about government programs. The stipend for these 50,000 ‘Yojana Dut’ will be given through this scheme, with one person appointed per gram panchayat in rural areas and one for every 5,000 people in urban areas.