Ministry of Social Justice Rebuts Allegations Against MAPCET Placement Payments
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued a factual report countering claims published in The Central Chronicle (Bhopal) on October 31, 2026, which alleged that the Madhya Pradesh Council for Employment and Training (MAPCET) made payments amounting to crores of rupees based on unverified placement data. The Ministry categorically states this claim is "entirely incorrect and baseless."
Funding and Training Program Details
The Office of the Commissioner, Scheduled Caste Development Department, sanctioned ₹3,241.37 lakh for skill development training under the "Special Central Assistance for Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan" head. Of this amount, ₹2,945.37 lakh was made available to MAPCET during 2021-22 through two specific orders: ₹1,296.00 lakh (Order No. 4695 dated 26 November 2021) and ₹1,649.37 lakh (Order No. 10283 dated 25 March 2022).
MAPCET issued a request for proposal for training beneficiaries from below-poverty-line families belonging to the Scheduled Caste category. Contracts were signed with 34 training provider organizations, though six organizations did not commence work. Ultimately, 28 institutions provided training to 4,952 trainees, with all training activities managed through a dedicated portal that facilitates trainee registration, daily attendance tracking, and uploading of assessment and placement data.
Payment Structure and Disbursement Status
The payment criteria for training providers follows the Gazette notification (No. 349 dated 4 December 2020) from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The three-instalment structure includes: 30% paid at commencement of training (first instalment), 40% paid after successful completion of certification with adjustment of advance payments (second instalment), and 30% paid only after achievement of 70% verified employment, requiring continuous employment for three months with desk verification and placement verification according to standard norms (third instalment).
The first instalment was paid following physical verification of trainees at batch commencement. The second instalment was paid after training completion and assessment by entities designated by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training, with trainees required to have attended at least 70% of training to be eligible. Crucially, the Ministry confirms that "no third-instalment payments have been made" because no payment claims have been generated through the portal, which requires verified placement data uploads according to prescribed criteria.
The Ministry emphasizes that post-training placement information submitted in hard-copy form based on job offers or offer letters does not constitute the basis for releasing the third instalment. Since only the first two instalments (totaling 70% of batch amount) have been disbursed—neither of which is linked to placement—the allegation of payments based on unverified placement data is invalid. The organization is currently facilitating placements, and the third instalment will only be paid when candidates take up employment after training completion with proper verification.