Kolkata, 10 February (H.S.) :

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that the ‘Yuvashree’ scheme, unveiled in the interim Budget, will be implemented from April 1. Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, the Chief Minister said the scheme will provide a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to unemployed youth in the 21–40 age group.

Mamata Banerjee explained that although the scheme was initially planned to be launched on August 15, the state government has decided to roll it out from April 1, coinciding with the beginning of the new financial year.

Under the scheme, only those youths who have passed the Madhyamik or an equivalent examination and are currently unemployed will be eligible. The allowance will be provided for a maximum period of five years. However, the assistance will be discontinued immediately once a beneficiary secures employment. The Chief Minister also clarified that youths already availing benefits under any other government allowance scheme will not be eligible. At the same time, beneficiaries of scholarships such as Aikyashree, Medhashree, or Smart Card schemes will not be excluded from the Yuvashree scheme.

Detailing the application process, the Chief Minister said applications will not be accepted online. Instead, direct applications will be taken to ensure proper verification and to avoid exclusion of eligible beneficiaries due to time constraints. For this purpose, special camps will be set up in all 294 Assembly constituencies across the state. These camps will operate from February 15 to February 26, between 10 am and 5 pm, and will remain closed on holidays. Applicants will be issued receipts, and all applications will subsequently be digitised.

She further stated that the camps will be organised on the lines of the ‘Duare Sarkar’ initiative, with multiple departments participating. While the Youth and Sports Department will handle applications related to the Yuvashree scheme, the Agriculture Department will be present for a scheme providing ₹2,000 twice a year to landless agricultural labourers. The Minor Irrigation and Power Departments will also offer services at the camps. Advertisements carrying details of the schemes will be published in newspapers to create awareness.

During the press conference, the Chief Minister also extended greetings to the people of the state on the occasions of Ramadan and Holi. She expressed hope that all festivals would be celebrated in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

Mamata Banerjee noted that while the Yuvashree scheme had been announced earlier in the Budget, the launch date had not been specified. With the new announcement, unemployed youths who have passed the Madhyamik examination will be able to start availing the monthly assistance of ₹1,500 from April 1.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh