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Bengal Advances Unemployment Dole Start to April, CM Overrides Budget Date

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has overridden the interim budget announcement to advance the start date for a new unemployment allowance scheme from August 15 to April this year. The 'Banglaar Yava Sathi' scheme promises a monthly payment of Rs 1,500 to eligible youths aged between 21 and 40 who have passed their secondary examination. Beneficiaries will receive the allowance for a period of five years, after which their status will be reviewed if they remain unemployed. Application camps will be held across all 294 Assembly constituencies throughout February to enroll candidates for the scheme.

Key Points: Bengal Prepones Unemployment Allowance from Aug to April

  • Scheme start preponed from Aug 15 to April
  • Rs 1,500 monthly allowance for youth 21-40
  • Payments to run for five years per beneficiary
  • Application camps in all 294 Assembly seats in Feb
2 min read

Interim budget: Bengal CM prepones date for beginning unemployment dole from Aug 15 to April

CM Mamata Banerjee advances 'Banglaar Yava Sathi' dole start date. Scheme offers Rs 1,500 monthly to eligible youth aged 21-40.

"the dole under 'Banglaar Yava Sathi' will start from April this year - Mamata Banerjee"

Kolkata, Feb 10

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday made an unprecedented announcement to change a proposal of the interim budget presented on the floor of the Assembly on February 5 and advance the date of beginning of the payment under a "unemployment allowance" scheme. She preponed the date for beginning the unemployment allowance payment from August 15 to April.

On February 5, while reading out the interim budget proposals, West Bengal Minister of State for Finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya announced a new project christened 'Banglaar Yava Sathi', an unemployment allowance scheme for youths in the age bracket of 21 and 40, who had passed secondary examination.

On that day, Chandrima Bhattacharya also announced that the beneficiaries under the scheme will be entitled to a monthly payment of Rs 1,500 and also said that the project will be launched from August 15 this year, provided Trinamool Congress returns to power after the Assembly elections.

However, in a hurriedly convened press conference on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the advancement of the date of the beginning of the payment under the scheme and said that the dole under 'Banglaar Yava Sathi' will start from April this year and not after August 15, as was announced earlier in the interim budget proposals.

She said that this payment will be for a period of five years for each beneficiary, and after five years, if any beneficiary remains unemployed, there would be a review on case-to-case basis on whether payment will be continued for such beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister also said that camps would be organised throughout February in all the 294 Assembly constituencies in the state for applications from those willing to avail themselves of the scheme.

"A detailed advertisement will be published to make people aware of the dates of the camps for receiving the applications. After reviewing the applications, the payments under the scheme would start with effect from April 1," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good initiative, but smells like an election sop. Suddenly changing the date from August to April right before polls? It's clear what the intention is. I hope the camps are organized properly and the funds reach the actual beneficiaries without any "cut" or corruption.
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Aman W
As a youth from Bengal, I appreciate this step. Many of my friends are struggling after completing their education. ₹1500 may not be much, but it can help with internet bills for online courses or transport for job interviews. Starting in April is better than waiting till Independence Day.
S
Sarah B
Interesting policy shift. The five-year limit with case-by-case review seems practical to prevent dependency. However, the administrative challenge of running camps in 294 constituencies in one month is huge. Hope it doesn't lead to chaos and long queues like other government schemes.
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Vikram M
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Kriti O
The condition of passing secondary examination is good—it encourages basic education. But what about skilled workers or graduates? They face unemployment too. The scheme seems targeted but might leave out many deserving candidates. The government should think more broadly.
R
Ramesh W
Where is the money for this coming from? The state's finances are already stretched. Instead of freebies, invest in infrastructure and industries that create

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