Karnataka government to launch 5th Congress guarantee — Yuva Nidhi — by end-December

After coming to power, the Congress government implemented four guarantees: The Shakti Scheme, Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, and Anna Bhagya.

Under the Yuva Nidhi scheme, the Congress promised to provide monthly financial assistance to unemployed graduates and diploma holders for about two years.

The state government estimated an annual outlay of ₹52,000 crore for the implementation of all five guarantees.

For the fiscal year 2023-24, the government allocated ₹39,575 crores for them. Of that, Rs 250 crore was earmarked for the Yuva Nidhi scheme.

Also read: ‘Guarantees played key part in Congress victory in Telangana’

The scheme

Six months after coming to power, the Congress government is making necessary preparations to launch registrations for the Yuva Nidhi scheme in December.

The Department of Skill Development is spearheading the works related to the financial assistance scheme for unemployed graduates and diploma holders, which is estimated to benefit around 4 lakh youths across Karnataka.

Under the scheme, unemployed young graduates would be provided ₹3,000 and diploma holders ₹1,500 every month for two years.

On condition of anonymity, an official associated with Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil’s office confirmed to South First: “The government is making necessary preparations for the launch of registrations for the Yuva Nidhi scheme in December. It is likely to be launched either in the third or fourth week of this month.”

The official added: “Minister Patil will hold talks with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the conclusion of the ongoing winter session to finalise the dates for the launch of registrations and the inaugural ceremony of the fifth guarantee. The inaugural ceremony is likely to be held in January 2024.”

He also said: “Several fake posters claiming that the Yuva Nidhi would be launched on 21 December are circulating on social media. We appeal to the beneficiaries to not fall prey to this. The government will officially announce the registration and launch dates in a week or two.”

It may also be noted that the chief minister and deputy chief minister have announced that the government was planning to launch the scheme either in December or January.

Also read: Congress sets sights on 2024 polls with Gruha Lakshmi launch

Who is eligible for Yuva Nidhi?

While announcing the fifth guarantee in the run-up to the Assembly polls, the Congress had declared that the scheme would be beneficial to all unemployed graduates and diploma holders. However, the government altered its stance after coming to power.

According to the Department of Skill Development: “Only those students who completed graduation and diploma in the 2022-23 academic year are eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme.”

It added: “The applicants must not have held a job after six months of completing their studies in the 2022-23 academic year, must be a domicile of Karnataka, and must not enrolled in any Central or state-sponsored self-employment schemes.”

The state government has not yet disclosed the other criteria for the eligibility of this scheme.