Yuvashathi Scheme: West Bengal Yuvashathi And Khetmajur Scheme 2024 Benefits Start From April 1
Yuvashathi Scheme: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a wave of good news for the citizens of West Bengal, specifically targeting unemployed youth and the farming community. To ensure that the welfare schemes announced in the recent budget reach the common people swiftly, the state government has set a definitive timeline. According to the latest announcement, benefits for several key schemes will be rolled out starting from April 1st.
This article details the upcoming application camps and the revised guidelines for the Yuvashathi and Khetmajur schemes.
Direct Application via Assembly Level Camps
To bypass the complexities often associated with online portals, the state government is prioritizing offline camps this time. Special camps will be organized across all 294 assembly constituencies in the state.
- Dates: The camps will operate from March 15th to March 26th (excluding holidays).
- Timing: From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.
- Procedure: Officials from the Youth Welfare, Agriculture, and Irrigation & Power departments will be present. Applicants will receive an immediate receipt upon submission, and their data will be digitized instantly to fast-track the process.
Revamped Yuvashree Scheme: ₹1,500 Monthly Allowance
The ‘Yuvashree’ scheme has been restructured to provide better support to the state’s unemployed youth until they find employment.
- Allowance & Tenure: Eligible candidates will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,500. This benefit will be valid for 5 years initially, after which a review will be conducted. The support is intended to continue as long as the recipient remains unemployed.
- Eligibility: Youth aged between 21 and 40 years who have passed their Madhyamik (10th standard) examination are eligible to apply.
- Key Advantage: A significant update is that students receiving other government scholarships like Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means, Aikyashree, or Medhashree remain eligible for the Yuvashree scheme. There is no bar on dual benefits in this regard.
Double Bonanza for Farmers: Financial Aid & Power Waiver
Two major decisions have been taken to support the agricultural sector and assist landless farmers.
- Grant for Landless Laborers (Khetmajur): Previously, only landowners received financial aid under the Krishak Bandhu scheme. Now, landless farmers who work on others’ land will also receive ₹4,000 annually (disbursed as ₹2,000 twice a year).
- Free Electricity for Irrigation: The state has announced a massive waiver on electricity bills for pumps and shallow machines used in farming. Farmers will no longer have to pay the Power Department for irrigation water. Bills up to ₹2,000, which were earlier charged, have been made completely free.
Other Important Updates
Regarding other schemes, the Chief Minister confirmed that despite minor budgetary delays, the disbursement of funds for Lakshmir Bhandar has already commenced from February. On the topic of Dearness Allowance (DA), the CM refrained from commenting as the matter is currently sub-judice.
Additionally, with festivals like Ramadan, Holi, Ram Navami, and Poila Baisakh approaching, the Chief Minister extended her greetings to all and appealed for maintaining peace and harmony across the state.
