Google refutes reports of hiring Indian teenager for over Rs23 million
CHANDIGARH (Web Desk) – Amid several circulating reports, Google has refuted that an Indian teenager has been hired as a graphic designer with a salary of INR14.4 million (Rs23 million).
On Tuesday, Indian media while referring to the press release of Union Territory (UT) administration said that 16-year-old Harshit Sharma from Chandigarh has been employed at Google for an icon designing programme.
However; the tech giant has rejected all such news. “Currently, we don’t have any information on our records with respect to Harshit Sharma’s candidacy,” Google told The Indian Express.
The boy was supposed to leave for California on August 7. “I never expected to get selected for Google. Since the age of 10, I used to do graphic design as I was inspired and trained by my uncle Rohit Sharma. Slowly, it became my passion and I always aimed for a job in Google. Whatever I am is because of my uncle and I owe my selection to him as I never joined any professional institute for training,” Harshit had told The Indian Express.
He was to be trained for one year while receiving a monthly stipend of INR400,000. As his training completed, the boy was to get monthly salary of INR1.2 million (approximately Rs1.97 million).
The UT administration has now initiated an inquiry to probe the release of the press release.
Sharma completed Class 12 earlier this year from Government Model Senior Secondary School in Sector 33-B of Chandigarh which also issued a press release in this regard.
Below is the UT’s press release as published by Hindustan Times.
Department of Public Relations, Chandigarh Administration
Press Release, Chandigarh, 29th July 2017
A student of GMSSS-33D, Chandigarh Class-XII (I.T.) stream, Harshit has been selected for graphic designing by Google. He will be trained for Graphic designing for an initial period of one year and will receive a stipend of 04 lacs per month. After completion of his training he will get remuneration of 12 lacs per month. He went for online interview through video conferencing and was selected on the basis of posters designed by him while doing class 12th under the supervision of his teachers. His achievements will act as a morale booster for other students and they will be inspired to make forays into this field. Principal, Mrs. Indra Beniwal congratulated Harshit on his remarkable achievement and lauded the efforts of his teachers also.