Kolkata, 07 March (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced that the allowance under the state government’s ‘Yuva Sathi’ scheme will be credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts from March instead of April.

Speaking from the protest stage at Metro Channel in Dharmatala, the Chief Minister said the payment will begin from Saturday, March 7. Earlier, the state government had planned to start transferring the funds from April 1, but the decision was advanced as a gesture ahead of International Women’s Day.

Banerjee said nearly one crore youths aged between 21 and 40 years have applied for the scheme. Under the programme, eligible beneficiaries will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500, which will be directly transferred to their bank accounts.

She added that applicants must have passed the Madhyamik examination or an equivalent qualification to be eligible for the scheme. The benefit is meant only for youths who are currently unemployed and not engaged in any job or work. Beneficiaries will be able to avail of the scheme for a maximum period of five years.

The Chief Minister also clarified that those already receiving benefits from other state government welfare schemes will not be eligible for ‘Yuva Sathi’. However, students receiving support under schemes such as Scholarship, Sikshashree, Kanyashree or Rupashree will still qualify for the scheme, as these benefits are meant specifically for educational purposes.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh