In a bid to offer lucrative employment avenues beyond its borders, Maharashtra has inaugurated a pioneering centre aimed at facilitating international career opportunities for its youth. The Swami Vivekananda International Skills Development Academy, located in Vidyavihar, is going to train, and upskill individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from recent diploma holders to mid-career professionals eyeing global career prospects.
The initiative seeks to boast the career trajectories of Maharashtra’s youth, who face challenges securing employment in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai. Through a partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the state Government’s skills university will craft customised plans to guide youth towards lucrative international employment prospects. “This centre is like a step-by-step process laboratory spread across several tutorial rooms that bridge the gulf between a candidate’s skill and aspirations,” said Mumbai suburban guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
The initiative stems from a successful pilot project where 120 students from various industrial training institutes were placed in coveted positions in countries like Germany and Japan, fetching salaries three times higher than local earnings. Fitters for Germany, meat-cutters for Japan, and now, liftmen for Russia or plumbers for Austria, youth such as Devendra Kumar from Karjat are preparing to cater to manpower shortage around the world. “As an engineer, I know that once I am fluent in German, I can take up a good job there,” said Kumar.
Unlike traditional labour agents focused solely on profit, the centre prioritises candidates’ welfare, ensuring fair negotiations regarding salaries, working conditions, housing, and other benefits. Moreover, it pledges ongoing support post-employment, encompassing housing assistance, insurance coverage, and visa services, underscoring the government’s commitment to nurturing India’s human capital.
Apoorva Palkar, Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra State Skills University, emphasised the centre’s role in not only fulfilling dreams of international employment but also curbing the trend of students seeking education abroad as a gateway to work opportunities.
