Kolkata: With West Bengal heading towards Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 for unemployed youth who have passed Class 10.
Speaking during her protest in Kolkata alleging that the Election Commission is acting in a one-sided manner in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, Banerjee said the benefit would be extended to those aged 21 to 40 to help them become self-reliant.
She said the scheme had originally been planned to begin on April 1, but is being implemented immediately as a gift for International Women’s Day. According to her, around one crore people who do not receive benefits from other government schemes—apart from education scholarships—would be covered.
Banerjee also cited employment and development claims, saying unemployment in the state has reduced by 40% and that skill training has been provided to 40 lakh people under the “Utkarsh Bangla” programme, with jobs for 10 lakh. She added that 200 new companies have come to the state, MSMEs are leading, and a major coal mine in Birbhum district would create jobs for one lakh people.
