What happens when a powerful policy tool sits unused in the heart of India’s most industrialized state?

In Maharashtra; a home to massive manufacturing hubs and MSMEs, hundreds of industries were meant to serve as engines of youth employment through apprenticeships. Yet, many remained silent participants in a scheme designed to empower them. That silence was costing us a future.

At RightWalk Foundation, we knew we couldn’t let that future slip away!

Over the past six months, we set out to understand why industries across Maharashtra were inactive under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and more importantly, what could be done about it.

This article is a behind-the-scenes look at what we discovered, what we did, and why this work matters more than ever.

Why Apprenticeships Matter: Now More Than Ever

India has one of the youngest populations in the world, with over 65% below the age of 35. But youth unemployment continues to hover at concerning levels. The missing link? Practical, hands-on skill development that connects education with the real demands of industry.

That’s where Apprenticeships come in.

Launched in 2016, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) was envisioned to address India’s skills gap by incentivizing industries to hire, train, and empower young apprentices. Later complemented by the PM National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) initiative, the goal was to bridge the divide between job seekers and job creators.

Maharashtra, being a major industrial hub, was naturally a key player. But the ground reality told a different story: many industries remained inactive, disconnected, and disillusioned with the scheme.

What We Found: The Inactivity Problem

To truly understand the issue, RightWalk Foundation conducted a first-of-its-kind study covering 1,378 industries across various MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) zones in Maharashtra, using a mix of phone interviews, in-person visits, and portal mapping.

Here’s what emerged:

• Industries were overwhelmed by the compliance-heavy onboarding process.
• Digital hurdles: unfamiliarity with the NAPS portal and tech gaps, blocked many from participating.
• Third-Party Aggregators (TPAs) often created friction, misusing access or failing to follow through on matchmaking promises.
• MSMEs felt the cost of training outweighed the benefit, especially in uncertain market conditions.
• Students, meanwhile, struggled with lack of awareness, mobility constraints, and a mismatch between their training and real job requirements.

In short, the system was full of good intentions; but clogged by structural and logistical roadblocks.

Systemic Challenges Behind the Problem

Policy can seem distant until you meet the people living it.

In Amravati, we met Mr. Karthik Kanjare, the manager of Lakshmi Auto Agencies. Keen to onboard apprentices, he was stuck at the registration stage for months. It wasn’t reluctance, it was confusion. With patient handholding by our team member Anil Kokate, the industry was onboarded within weeks.

Roshan Labhade, from RightWalk Foundation spent hours simplifying the portal process and guiding them through compliance. The result? Another factory reactivated and dozens of apprentices soon to be hired.

And in Palghar, Our team member Damini Panchal Bhosale used AnyDesk Software backed by Alphacom support, to remotely guide industrial units through the portal maze. It wasn’t always easy, but it was effective.

What We Did Differently

We realized early that pushing a policy wasn’t enough. We had to walk industries through it. So we rolled up our sleeves and:

• Visited inactive industries, one by one, to understand their unique challenges.
• Matched them with student apprentices from nearby training institutions.
• Organized placement drives where industries could directly interact with potential candidates.
• Guided industries through the NAPS portal, documentation, and process — often remotely via tech tools.
• Collaborated with key players, including TPAs, ITIs, and government departments, to unblock systemic issues.

This wasn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It was grassroots problem-solving, powered by policy literacy and empathy.

The Impact: 112 Industries Re-Activated and Counting

In just six months, RightWalk Foundation successfully converted 112 inactive industries into active apprenticeship partners.

Each conversion doesn’t just represent a tick on a dashboard , it represents:

• Dozens of youth are now gaining real-world experience.
• Industries benefiting from trained talent and reduced hiring friction.
• A system slowly becoming more inclusive, navigable, and future-ready.

The multiplier effect is real: every reactivated industry opens up a pipeline of jobs, skills, and growth.

What Needs to Change: Our Policy Recommendations

While field intervention works, real scale will come only with systemic reform. Based on our findings, here’s what we believe must change:

• Redefine the role of TPAs: Their focus should shift from passive facilitators to active matchmakers, with accountability built into the system.
• Enable transport and hostel options for apprentices, especially in remote areas, to improve access and retention.
• Modernize ITI curricula to align with real industry needs and emerging technologies.
• Strengthen on-ground government support systems like BTRIC to handhold industries through onboarding and compliance.

Let’s Co-Create a Skilling Revolution

At RightWalk Foundation, we’ve always believed that systems don’t change unless someone takes the first step. This initiative is just that; a step towards co-creating an apprenticeship ecosystem that works for everyone.

• To Industries: we invite you to onboard, upskill, and invest in the next generation.
• To Policymakers: we urge you to consider ground realities and support responsive reforms.
• To Civil Societies: let’s join hands to amplify youth access to real, meaningful work.

India’s demographic dividend won’t last forever. If we want a skilled, empowered, and job-ready workforce, the time to act is now

Let’s move from inactive to impactful!