Yuva Sathi Scheme: West Bengal New Scheme Yuva Sathi Launched For Unemployed Youth Benefits And Eligibility Details

Yuva Sathi Scheme: The West Bengal state government has brought a wave of relief for the educated unemployed youth in its latest budget announcement. To support the jobless young generation financially, the state has unveiled a brand new welfare initiative named the ‘Yuva Sathi’ (Youth Companion) scheme. The primary objective is to provide direct cash assistance to eligible candidates until they secure employment. Additionally, significant updates regarding the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme have also been announced.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the new scheme, the financial benefits, and the eligibility criteria as per the initial announcement.

Financial Benefits and Scheme Tenure

According to the budget proposal, this scheme aims to act as a financial buffer for thousands of unemployed individuals in the state. The scheme appears to primarily target unemployed men, balancing the social welfare ecosystem where women are already covered under schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar.

• Monthly Stipend: Beneficiaries enrolled in the scheme will receive a financial grant of ₹1,500 per month.
• Maximum Benefit: This aid will be provided for a maximum period of 5 years or until the beneficiary gets a job, whichever is earlier. Over the full tenure, a single beneficiary could receive up to ₹90,000.
• Launch Date: The scheme is scheduled to become operational from August 15th of the current year.

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

Not everyone is eligible for this benefit. Applicants must meet specific strict criteria set by the government:

• Educational Qualification: The applicant must have passed at least the Madhyamik (Secondary) examination or an equivalent board exam.
• Age Limit: The applicant’s age must be between 21 and 40 years.
• Exclusion Criteria: Individuals already receiving benefits from other state government social security schemes are not eligible. However, receiving educational scholarships or student stipends will not disqualify a candidate.

Current Ambiguities and Grey Areas

While the scheme draws parallels to the existing ‘Yuvasree’ scheme (managed by employment exchanges), certain operational details remain unclear:

1. Conflict with Other Schemes: It is currently uncertain whether beneficiaries of the ‘Krishak Bandhu’ scheme can apply for Yuva Sathi. Since the rule excludes recipients of other government aids, they might be ineligible, but a detailed notification is awaited.
2. Application Mode: The government has not yet specified whether the application process will be conducted online via a portal or offline through ‘Duare Sarkar’ camps.

Boost for Lakshmir Bhandar Beneficiaries

Alongside the new scheme for youth, the budget has also delivered good news for women under the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme. The monthly allowance has been hiked significantly:

• General & OBC Categories: The allowance has been increased from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500.
• SC & ST Categories: The allowance has been raised to ₹1,700.
  This revised payment structure is reported to be effective from the upcoming February cycle.

The ‘Yuva Sathi’ scheme is being viewed as a positive step towards empowering the unemployed youth of Bengal. Citizens are advised to wait for the official detailed notification for the exact application procedure.