Yuvasathi Scheme: West Bengal Launches Helpline For Yuvasathi Scheme To Assist 84 Lakh Applicants

Yuvasathi Scheme Helpdesk: The West Bengal government announced the ‘Yuvasathi Scheme’ to assist the unemployed youth of the state, aiming to provide them with financial stability. The scheme has received an overwhelming response with millions of applications. However, many applicants have been uncertain about the status of their applications and the timeline for receiving benefits. To address these queries and ensure transparency, the state secretariat, Nabanna, has taken a significant step by launching a dedicated helpdesk.

According to administrative sources, this helpdesk will allow applicants to directly register their grievances and inquire about the progress of their applications.

New Communication Channel and Timings

As per the directive issued by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, the number 6292248888 has been designated for applicant assistance. This is not just a calling number; applicants can also reach out via WhatsApp. This dual mode of communication is expected to help candidates from remote areas resolve their queries easily.

• Operating Hours: The helpdesk will remain open daily from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
• Holidays: The service will be closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and other government holidays.
• Email Contact: In addition to phone calls and WhatsApp, a specific email ID has been designated for official correspondence, as mentioned in the Nabanna directive.

Massive Application Volume and Administrative Action

So far, approximately 84 lakh applications have been received for the Yuvasathi Scheme across the state. Out of these, about 65 lakh youths applied through offline camps at the block level, while around 19 lakh applications were submitted via the online portal. Verifying the data of such a huge number of people and answering their individual queries is challenging through standard procedures. This is why the special helpline system has been introduced. This arrangement will continue until further orders.

Instructions regarding this have already been sent to all District Magistrates, the Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Tribal Development Department, and the Principal Secretaries of the GTA. The primary goal is to eliminate any confusion regarding the implementation of the scheme.

Impact of Upcoming Elections on the Scheme

State Minister of State for Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, announced this scheme during the budget presentation in the Assembly. The scheme promises financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month to unemployed youth aged between 21 and 40 years. As per the announcement, the transfer of funds to beneficiaries’ accounts was targeted to begin from April 1.

However, a section of the administration believes that the dates for the Assembly elections could be announced any day after the first week of March. Once the Election Commission releases the schedule, the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect. According to the rules, the government cannot initiate any new financial benefits or allowances while the code of conduct is in force. Consequently, there is some uncertainty regarding the goal to start disbursements from April 1. In that scenario, the full benefits of the scheme might only be realized after the election results are declared. For now, the helpdesk will serve as a crucial tool for applicants to track their status.