The Prime Minister Internship Scheme, launched by the Central Government with the objective of providing employment opportunities and industrial exposure to young people, has witnessed a disappointing response in Gujarat. Although the scheme was introduced with an ambitious national target of offering internships and employment opportunities to one crore youth over five years, participation in the state has remained far below expectations.
Over 11,000 Internship Opportunities, But Few Acceptances
According to the available data, 11,680 internship positions were announced under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme in Gujarat. Of these, around 7,170 candidates applied, but only 1,076 candidates ultimately accepted the internship offers.
The figures suggest that while many young people expressed interest in the programme by registering, only a small proportion chose to join, indicating significant gaps between available opportunities and the expectations of applicants.
Industrial Districts Attracted Applicants but Faced Low Conversions
Major industrial districts such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bharuch and Kutch witnessed a relatively high number of registrations, with nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the expected candidates showing interest in internships.
However, these same districts also recorded one of the lowest conversion rates from registration to actual acceptance. The data indicates that although industries are concentrated in these regions and young people are willing to pursue internships, several practical challenges prevented them from accepting the offers.
Gap Between Industry Needs and Youth Expectations
The report points to a mismatch between internship opportunities and the expectations of candidates. Differences in stipend levels, course relevance, industry requirements and job profiles emerged as key reasons behind the poor acceptance rate.
The availability of internships alone was not sufficient to attract candidates, as many found that the offered roles did not align with their educational background or career aspirations.
Migration and Infrastructure Challenges
Districts such as Dahod, Narmada, Chhota Udepur and Gir Somnath faced an additional set of challenges. With fewer local employment opportunities and industries, students often needed to relocate to participate in internships.
However, issues related to migration, transportation, hostel facilities and other support services discouraged many candidates from accepting internship offers.
The report also notes that although registrations were recorded from these districts, actual participation remained limited because of inadequate local industrial opportunities, transportation difficulties and accommodation-related concerns.
Lack of Monitoring at the State Level
According to the report, there is no clearly defined district-wise accountability mechanism to monitor implementation and outcomes under the scheme. State-level figures are available, but district-wise performance and responsibility have not been adequately assessed.
Many Candidates Leave During Training
Another concern highlighted in the report is that around 22 per cent of the candidates who accepted internships reportedly discontinued their training midway. This further reflects the gap between the scheme’s objectives and the on-ground experience of participants.
The data indicates that despite offering thousands of internship opportunities, the Prime Minister Internship Scheme has struggled to translate registrations into actual participation in Gujarat. Factors such as inadequate stipends, mismatch between academic courses and industry requirements, migration-related issues, lack of transport and hostel support, and limited monitoring have collectively contributed to the scheme’s weak performance in the state.
Also Read: Industrial Powerhouse Gujarat Misses Top 10 In Women-Owned Enterprises https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-misses-top-10-women-owned-industrial-enterprises-msme-day/
