■ Financial Boost: Rs 3 lakh aid for 5 lakh unemployed youth, totaling Rs 6000 crore allocation.

■ Timeline: Applications open from March 15 to April 5, with verification till May 31.

■ Target Groups: Scheme aimed at SC, ST, BC, Minority, and EWS youth in Telangana.

■ Political Context: The scheme's announcement follows Congress's unexpected loss in the Karimnagar MLC poll, sparking speculation about political motives. 

metro india news  I hyderabad

"Rajiv Yvua Vikasam". This is the new scheme announced by the Congress government for the unemployed youth of Telangana state. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that this new scheme will be launched this year on June 2, coinciding with Telangana Formation Day.

Elaborating details at a press meet held at Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women University on Tuesday, Bhatti said that the government had decided to give Rs 3 lakh financial assistance each to 5 lakh unemployed youth from the state. For this, the Telangana government would allocate Rs 6000 crore initially, he added.

The notification for the new scheme and the guidelines and eligibility criteria will be issued on March 15. A 20-day time period till April 5 will be given for unemployed youth to apply online for this scheme. Post the completion of the registration window, the officials will verify the applications from April 6 till May 31 to finalise the list of the eligible beneficiaries, Deputy CM said.

Bhatti further stated that Chief Minister  A Revanth Reddy and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar have come up with this novel initiative to create self employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the state. This scheme would be implemented under the auspices of Finance Corporations of SC, Tribal, Minority and BCs.

This scheme would be applicable to candidates from SC, ST, BCs, Minorities and Economically Weaker Sections. More clarity on this would emerge in the guidelines, it was stressed.

Deputy CM said that the unemployed youth of the state were neglected for 10 long years in the BRS regime. Hence, the Congress government came up with this social concept for the job needy candidates of the state. Replying to a query, Bhatti said that this is a bank-linked scheme. When asked further whether the beneficiary needs to pay any amount from his side to avail this scheme, the Deputy CM replied that all details would be known in the notification.

Impact of Karimnagar MLC poll result?

Meanwhile, political circles are linking the new scheme for the unemployed youth and the fresh Karimnagar Graduate MLC election where the ruling Congress party faced a shocking defeat at the hands of the BJP. This being a sitting seat of the Congress party all this while made this result more difficult to digest for the ruling party.

Since the Graduate MLC segment was spread over 40 plus assembly constituencies from the four erstwhile districts of Medak, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Adilabad, the BJP is already shouting at the top of its voice that graduates and unemployed youth of the state are unhappy and upset with the Congress government in the state. The timing of the new scheme for the unemployed, about which there was no discussion at all, being announced all of a sudden has raised questions whether Congress government is trying to appease the candidates and students awaiting jobs.

Over Rs 115 Cr initially for women varsity works 

Meanwhile, Bhatti Vikramarka said that the government is going to release Rs 115 crore funds right away for the infrastructure works in the Women University. This is part of the Rs 540 crore amount that the government had announced for the new buildings and necessary infrastructure in the varsity. He said that one side of the varsity gate is next to the Musi River flow and its closed right now. Once the Musi Rejuvenation works get underway, we will take up the necessary facelift works at that location to also put it to use, the Deputy CM said.