What does GenZ think about the internship program proposed in Budget 2024?

The Union Budget of 2024 put forward a comprehensive youth internship initiative aimed at tackling the urgent problem of youth unemployment by providing significant work exposure. Individuals aged between 21 and 24 qualify for this program, indicating that it is specifically tailored for newcomers and graduates in the nation.

The proposed internship program in Budget 2024 has sparked a whirlwind of emotions among Gen Z. This generation, often dubbed as the "hopeful realists," finds itself at a crossroads of excitement and skepticism.?

On one hand, there's a wave of optimism. Many young people see this initiative as a beacon of hope, a bridge to the future they've always envisioned. The promise of gaining real-world experience in top companies, coupled with a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 and additional financial support, feels like a long-awaited acknowledgment of their struggles and aspirations. They dream of the skills they'll hone, the networks they'll build, and the doors that might finally open for them. The program aims to provide internships to one crore youth in 500 top companies over the next five years, with the government covering 90% of the stipend and other costs.

Yet, beneath this excitement lies a layer of cautious apprehension. GenZ is acutely aware of the gap that often exists between policy announcements and on-ground realities. There's a fear that this well-intentioned program might falter in execution, leaving them with nothing but broken promises. Concerns about the quality of training and whether companies are genuinely committed to nurturing their potential add to their unease. There are also questions about whether the government consulted industry stakeholders adequately before rolling out the scheme.

Online/On call survey conducted by JhaMobi concludes like below

Pritam Powar, CDAC Kharghar, PG (Comp Sc) and Civil, B.Tech from D.Y Patil, Pune. He says, It is a good move by GOI which will help students in getting jobs. But it will certainly work in Online Mode. Because moving to another city, accommodation and commuting is not possible for INR 5000. And getting an internship for on an average 4000 interns in offline mode is not possible work.?

Ravi Reddy of Vardhaman college of Engineering, Shamshabad, Hyderabad pointed out it is a useful move. But it will certainly work in Online Mode. Students will learn new things during internship. It will work as a skill enhancement program. But it depends on the government how to make this possible because practically it is very difficult to give internships to 1 Cr students in 5 years.

Rahul Iyer, a student at Christ University, Bangalore said, “Bigshot companies are clearly going to misuse this scheme. Freshers in the current market are hired at a package of around 3-4 lakhs per annum on an average. This scheme gives companies an opportunity to hire freshers at 1- 1.5 lakhs per annum.?

Sahana Valsang, student at Gokhale Institute, Pune said "The mandate of hiring 3000 interns is higher as the big companies will not be ready to spend so much time, energy and cost into their training.”

Despite these worries, the resilience and determination of Gen Z shine through. They are ready to seize any opportunity that comes their way, even if it means navigating the uncertainties and challenges that lie ahead. For them, this internship program is more than just a policy; it's a glimmer of hope in their quest for a better future.

To intact students hope as they pursue a better future and considering Internship space of such an enormous size, JhaMobi Technologies Private Limited (JTPL) provides an affordable online internship program (JOIPTM) for Higher Education students to bridge the skills gap between academics and industry, transforming students into job-ready professionals. JOIP helps students in killing two birds (which are internships and Jobs) with one stone.?