Done with the illegal and perilous “donkey” route to the US, but not with their dream of starting a new life abroad, youngsters in Haryana are lining up for a “safer, legal pathway” to another destination in the West: Germany.
The representatives of several language institutes in the state told this newspaper that interest in learning German has surged, driven by offers of tuition-free education and comparatively better job prospects.
The shift comes at a time when the state has witnessed the deportation back home of a stream of illegal immigrants by US authorities over the past year.
“Around one-third of all German opportunity cards (a visa for skilled non-EU workers) are issued to Indians. Since the Covid pandemic, the number of visas issued in India has grown at double-digit rates each year, both for Schengen and national visas, and we expect this trend to continue,” Kaspar Meyer, spokesperson for the German Embassy, told The Indian Express.
While state-wise data was not available, Meyer said Haryana was “most likely among the top three states” in terms of visa applications from India. Indians currently form the largest group of foreign students in Germany, with around 60,000 enrolled in various courses, Meyers said. In 2020, the figure stood at 28,905, according to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
“There are over 400 internship-based programmes in Germany that allow students to find jobs in nursing, retail, food processing and logistics,” said Rajesh Kundu, director of Hisar-based SkyTech Destination, which offers eight to 10-month German language courses priced between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh.
“The craze for learning German is still in its early phase, yet nearly every district now has two or three institutes offering the language. As students face increasing challenges in destinations like Canada, Australia, the US and the UK, many are turning to Germany… We have now introduced online sessions by a former employee of a German bank,” Kundu said.
Asked about the new trend, Ashok Meena, Director-General of Haryana’s Foreign Cooperation Department, said the government facilitates opportunities for youths from the state who wish to go abroad, including to European countries, for employment.
Among those who are keen on taking the big leap to Germany are Suman (28), Ranjana (18) and Yogita (15), sisters from Dhani Siswal, a village in Haryana’s Hisar district. Ranjana and Suman have completed their eight-month German language B1 course while Yogita, a Class 9 student is beginning her journey.
“I know German is a tough language, but I don’t want to take the kind of risks others did when they went to the US through the donkey route. If I get a job in Germany after completing a three-year internship while studying at a German institute, I want to support my family back home,” said Suman, who holds a master’s degree in mass communication.
“We own just half an acre of farmland but we are keen that Suman takes a safer route abroad,” said Suman’s father, Balraj Saini.
At Dhani Mahu village in Bhiwani district, the success of Preetika Tanwar (21) is an “inspiration for other students” at SkyTech Destination.
According to her family members, Preetika completed her B1 language course and is pursuing a dual degree programme in food processing in Germany, which combines study with an internship. Attached to the Adeka Group, she earns 950 euros a month currently and is provided free accommodation, they said, adding that she expects to earn around 3,000 euros per month after completing the three-year programme.
“My sister is doing well there. I have completed my B1 course after Class 12, and hope to enrol for a nursing course in Germany,” Priyanka’s brother Tejinder (19) said.
Priyanka’s neighbours, sisters Muskan (21) and Shweta (19), and their cousin Sakshi (21), who hail from a family of farmers, “have already received confirmation for admission in a German nursing course”.