VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing the ground for implementation of the much-awaited unemployment allowance scheme — one of the 2014 poll promises of the TDP.
Highly-placed sources in the Youth Services Department said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would announce a date for the rolling out of the scheme, under which beneficiaries will be given `1,000 per month, in May or June.
Though the number of unemployed youth in the state is around 35 lakh as per Smart Pulse Survey, the government is likely to limit dole to 10 lakh youth. It was initially rumoured that those who had passed the Inter exam would be eligible, but a final call is yet to be taken.
“A list of eligible candidates has been made. The Chief Minister will soon announce the date on which the scheme will begin,” Minister for Youth Affairs Kollu Ravindra told TNIE.
“We also need to come to a consensus on whether dole should be extended only to those who have graduated or if an Inter certificate would do,” the Minister added.
Officials of the Youth Services Department TNIE spoke to revealed that though the Chief Minister had suggested only graduates be eligible as giving dole to anyone with lower qualifications may unwittingly encourage students to discontinue studies, the Group of Ministers (GoM) recommended that those with intermediate, diploma and ITI qualifications also be offered benefits. “We reduced the minimum age for availing unemployment allowance from 21 to 18 based on the recommendation,” an official said and added that a date can be expected at least 6 months before the elections.
Data pertaining to Online Beneficiary Management and Monitoring System and EPF and ESI of Labour and Establishments to be integrated. As applications will be accepted online, officials have made linkage of Aadhaar mandatory to avoid foul play. In case of the applicants already enjoy benefits through other government schemes, have availed loans, have Provident Fund accounts or ESI facilities will be rejected, a senior official told TNIE.
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