Yuva Nidhi for unemployed youth launched by Congress govt in Karnataka

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar launch the Karnataka government’s Yuva Nidhi scheme for educated unemployed youth in Shivamogga on January 12, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Sathish G T

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar launched the Yuva Nidhi scheme, the fifth poll guarantee of the Congress for educated unemployed youth of Karnataka, in Shivamogga on January 12. Apart from their Cabinet colleagues, thousands of people and youths from Shivamogga and neighbouring districts turned up for the launch.

The scheme offers financial aid to graduates and diploma holders who are yet to get a job, but only for a maximum of two years.

The government has promised ₹3,000 per month to degree holders and ₹1,500 per month to diploma holders who were unable to get a job in the past six months and are not pursuing higher studies. The aid will be paid for two years.

The launch was held on the birth anniversary of youth icon Swami Vivekananda. Organisers had made arrangements for close to one lakh people to witness the launch.

More than one lakh beneficiaries from Shivamogga, Davangere, Chitradurga, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Haveri districts were expected to participate in the event.

Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil, whose department is implementing Yuva Nidhi, said that the scheme is applicable only to graduates and diploma holders whose domicile is Karnataka.

The unemployment allowance will be available till the applicant gets a job or for a maximum of two years.

Applications can be submitted at Karnataka One, Grama One, Bapuji Seva Kendra or Seva Sindhu portals. An applicant must possess Aadhaar card, bank passbook, ration card, mark sheets of SSLC, PUC, degree or diploma.

The State Government has earmarked ₹250 crore for the scheme this year. It expects the amount to go up to ₹1,200 crore in 2025, and ₹1,500 crore annually from 2026 onwards.

This is the last of the five guarantees promised by the Congress to the people of Karnataka before the Assembly elections in May 2023. The Congress has already launched four of the five guarantees, which are Shakti — free rides to women in non-luxury government buses, Anna Bhagya — offering 10 kg rice to BPL families, Gruha Jyoti — free electricity up to 200 units to households, and Gruha Lakshmi — ₹2,000 per month to women heads of families having APL/BPL ration cards.

(With inputs from PTI)