Harish Rao alleges TOMCOM cheated unemployed youth in name of German jobs

BRS leader T Harish Rao has sought an inquiry into TOMCOM’s Germany job programme, alleging candidates paid lakhs without securing placements. He demanded refunds, compensation, alternative employment and a white paper on fees collected and overseas placements

Hyderabad: BRS Legislature Party (BRSLP) deputy leader T Harish Rao on Sunday accused the Congress government of turning the State-run Telangana Overseas Manpower Company (TOMCOM) into a racket by allegedly exploiting unemployed youth with promises of jobs in Germany.

He demanded a full refund of the money collected by TOMCOM and Fairstreet India, compensation for candidates’ financial losses, interest burden and mental agony, and alternative employment for every affected candidate.

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He also sought an immediate CID or judicial inquiry, criminal cases against those responsible, and a white paper detailing the fees collected and the number of actual overseas placements.

Citing multiple media reports, the former Minister said 70 to 75 candidates from 15 districts had paid Rs 4.10 lakh each. Their total expenditure had reportedly approached Rs 4.5 lakh per candidate after examination, insurance and visa costs. Yet, more than two years later, none of the 24 candidates who spoke to the media could name a German employer who had interviewed them, he claimed.

Harish Rao said farming families had exhausted years of savings, pledged the gold of their mothers and wives, and borrowed money to meet the expenses, relying on the government’s promise of overseas employment. The families continued to face interest payments, he added.

He alleged that candidates who cleared the B1-level German language examination were subsequently asked to clear the B2 level. Meanwhile, the programme had publicised that nine candidates were ready to fly to Germany, but none had left, he claimed.

The BRSLP deputy leader also questioned a clause in the agreement requiring disputes to be pursued in a court in Lucknow, more than 1,000 km away. He said responses to Right to Information (RTI) queries seeking TOMCOM’s actual placement figures had not been provided within the statutory deadline.

Harish Rao criticised Labour Minister G Vivek Venkataswamy for inaugurating a fresh TOMCOM batch in June while, he said, cases relating to the programme remained pending. He also questioned the Congress government’s promises of two lakh jobs and a job calendar.

“BRS will stand by the affected families until every rupee is returned and those responsible are held accountable,” he said.