The much publicised Government's unemployment allowance scheme which was one of the major poll promises that saw the ruling Congress party's return to power in Uttarakhand in 2012, has turned out to be just a 'poll gimmick' with tougher conditions keeping away a majority of the unemployed youths from getting benefited from this scheme.
The fact of the matter is that out of 7,91,698 unemployed youths enrolled with the State unemployment exchange department as on February 2014, only 25,924 such youths are presently covered under this unemployment allowance scheme as on March 31, 2014.
Out of the total 25,924 unemployed youths covered under this employment allowance scheme, a maximum 3,984 belong to the Nainital district followed by 3,762 to Uttarkashi, 3,175 to Pithoragarh, 3,005 to Dehradun.
Besides, as many as 2,949 unemployed youths belonging to Udham Singh Nagar have also been covered under this unemployment scheme, while 2011 unemployed youths from Tehri, 1,393 such youths from Haridwar, 1,265 such youths from Rudraprayag, 1,177 such youths from Almora, 984 such youths from Pauri, 917 such youths from Champawat, 694 such youths from Bageshwar and 608 such youths from Chamoli are also covered under this scheme.
The State Government then keeping its promises to the youths implemented this unemployment allowance scheme in the State from November 2012.
Under this scheme presently unemployed with educational qualifications i.e. intermediate, graduation and post graduation levels are entitled to benefit from this unemployment allowance scheme.
Though number of beneficiaries under this financial assistance scheme still remain restricted as compared to the total number of unemployed youths, the State Government revised the unemployment scheme in June 2013 raising the unemployment allowance upto Rs 750 from Rs 500 for the unemployed youths with intermediate standard educational qualification.
Similarly, the graduate unemployed youths were given a raise of Rs 250 revising their unemployment allowance from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 in June 2012 and the postgraduate unemployed youths' unemployment allowance were raised upto Rs 1,500 from Rs 1,000 which was being given initially. However, when asked whether the amount in terms of unemployment allowance would further be revised for unemployed youths, Chandra Kanta, Assistant Director, Directorate of Employment Exchange Department, Haldwani, maintained that presently there is no such information with the department from the Government.
However, on asking about less number of unemployed youths being covered under this unemployment allowance scheme as compared to the registered number of youths, she said only unemployed youths with educational qualification from intermediate standards to postgraduate level are entitled to avail this scheme. But a major chunk of unemployed youths with educational qualification 10th standard are not covered under this scheme.
Among other conditions, only the unemployed youths aged between 25 years and 40 year are entitled to avail this scheme. However, there is five year relaxation on age to the students belonging to the weaker sections of the society. Besides, only those unemployed youths whose family members' income is less than Rs 2.50 lakh annually are covered under this scheme.