Maslows theory applicable in attracting Talent

eJeevika has been trying to make rural youth employed by training, certifying and employing them.
It seemed very obvious that those who do not have a Job will like to get certified, skilled and employed.
But to our surprise we found out a couple of interesting insights which are obvious but we had underestimated their strengths.
eJeevika has approached more than 100 candidates to take up a course in the construction industry for 3 months, get certified and eventually start working. We thought that at least 50% of the youth will enroll for this course (pls note that it is a free residential training course where all the expenses are covered followed by assured employment). 15 candidates showed willingness but none of them pursued this course. The 15 candidates started for the training destination by train but got down at some other station (a fellow passenger told them about a job opportunity of becoming cleaners in a temple) and joined the work where they got immediate money. We came to know that 3 months training period was a long wait for them.
Now this is not a one of example. We have witnessed similar incidences many times in the last few years.
Today, I was discussing Maslow’s theory with a team mate and it struck me that the reason the rural youth is behaving in this particular way is because of their unmet basic level needs.
Maslow posited that people want and are forever striving to meet various goals. Because the lower level needs are more immediate and urgent, then they come into play as the source and direction of a person's goal if they are not satisfied.
A need higher in the hierarchy will become a motive of behavior as long as the needs below it have been satisfied. Unsatisfied lower needs will dominate unsatisfied higher needs and must be satisfied before the person can climb up the hierarchy.
Knowing where a person is located on the pyramid will determine his behavior. For example, motivating a middle-class person (who is in range 4 of the hierarchy) with a certificate and free skill training course will have a far greater impact than using the same motivator to affect a minimum wage person from the ghetto who is desperately struggling to meet the first couple of needs.
Another client of ours who wants to train healthcare specialists has worked out a beautiful approach of attracting and retaining the trainees. Initially they were facing a tough task of attracting 12th pass candidates for a diploma course followed by full time employment. They were training the youth free of cost and were also offering them a stipend of Rs. 3000/- per month. After the initial hurdles they revised the stipend amount to Rs. 5000/- per month.
The candidates were thrilled and very enthusiastic after this revision. This slight change in the amount has taken care of the candidates basic level needs and they are now open to pursue the higher level needs like skill training and certification.