Scindia unveils 'Lakhpati Yuva' model for MP's Ashoknagar, says 2,592 youths to get jobs
Gwalior, July 17
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday announced a major employment initiative for Madhya Pradesh's Ashoknagar district, saying 2,592 educated youths will be provided jobs under the 'Lakhpati Yuva' initiative through the expansion of a call centre project.
The project, which aims to generate white-collar employment in a smaller district, will see a 2,000-seat call centre established in its second phase at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore.
The expansion will increase the project's employment capacity from 592 to 2,592 youths.
Addressing a public gathering in Ashoknagar, Scindia said the initiative was designed on the lines of the 'Lakhpati Didi' programme and seeks to provide educated youth with stable employment opportunities in their home district.
"Lakhpati Yuva is an initiative to make our young people financially self-reliant. Just as the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme has empowered women, this programme will create similar opportunities for educated youth. College graduates will receive jobs with monthly salaries ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000," Scindia said.
He said 592 youths have already secured employment under the existing project, while the proposed second phase would create jobs for another 2,000 people.
The Union Minister said the initiative would help reduce migration from smaller towns by enabling graduates to find employment closer to home while strengthening the local economy.
Rejecting criticism of the project, Scindia said only those with a "negative mindset" were questioning the initiative.
"This is not merely a call centre project. It is a model for employment-led development. With the second phase, employment opportunities will increase to 2,592 youths, creating a new economic ecosystem in Ashoknagar," he said.
Scindia added that employment generation was the central focus of nearly Rs 5,000 crore worth of development works being undertaken in Ashoknagar, expressing confidence that the district would emerge as a new service-sector and employment hub in the region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Rs 20,000-25,000 per month for graduates is decent, but is it really 'Lakhpati' if you're not earning a lakh per month? ₹25,000 × 12 = ₹3 lakhs per year, so technically you'd need 4 years to make a lakh total. The naming seems a bit misleading, no? Still, any job is better than no job in a small town.
Good initiative but I am skeptical about implementation. ₹6 crore for a 2,000-seat call centre? That's only ₹30,000 per seat. In today's market, a basic computer setup with furniture costs at least ₹50,000. Are they cutting corners? Also, who is training these youth? Call centre work needs soft skills and English fluency.
I appreciate that Scindia is focusing on his constituency. As a Gwalior native, I've seen how development works in MP—often just announcements before elections. But if even 50% of these jobs materialize, it will change lives. My friend's sister just got placed through the first phase (592 jobs) and she's thrilled. Let's be optimistic. 🇮🇳
Instead of creating call centre jobs that are low-skilled and often high-stress, why not invest in skill development for local industries? Ashoknagar is in Bundelkhand—we have agriculture, dairy, and handicrafts. A 2,000-seat call centre will run when the economy is good but shut down during downturns. Need sustainable livelihoods, not temporary fixes.
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