The Hindu Business Line : AP scheme to offer jobs to one lakh youth

MARKING the late Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi's birth anniversary on November 19, the State Government is launching a Rs 321-crore `Rajiv Yuva Shakti' to provide employment opportunities to one lakh youth in the next five months.

Besides a subsidy component of up to 30 per cent, the scheme offers a rebate of four percentage points on interest payable.

Announcing this here on Wednesday, the Minister for Youth Services, Mr T. Harish Rao, said 5,000 youth would get a loan of Rs 1 lakh, including a subsidy of 30 per cent.

As many as 20,000 individuals would get a loan of Rs 50,000 to take up small businesses.

The third category of loans would be given to groups, each having five members. Loans under this category would range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, with a 30 per cent subsidy (with a ceiling of Rs 30,000). A total of 5,000 groups would be selected for the purpose.

The last date for filing applications is November 25, he said.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, would formally launch the scheme on November 19 in Hyderabad, while the in-charge ministers would launch the scheme in districts.

In a bid to ensure effective functioning of the scheme, the Government would hold a videoconference with the district collectors and other officials on November 25. "We will tell them to coordinate with banks and remove hurdles, if any," he said.

Of the Rs 321 crore earmarked for the scheme, Rs 300 crore would be in the form of loans and the remaining amount in other schemes.

"We are planning to offer nursing courses fully or partly subsidised. We will also take up pre-recruitment drive for Army selections," he said.

The beneficiaries would be selected from families with an annual income of Rs 50,000 or less.

The Minister said the number of members had been reduced from 10-15 in the erstwhile scheme to ensure accountability. The Government would soon issue an order channelising five per cent of Panchayatraj funds to set up mini-gymnasiums and libraries in rural areas.

Mr Harish said the Centre gave its nod to establish five more sports hostels in the State. These would come up at Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry, Cuddapah, Karimnagar and Siddipet. Each hostel would cost Rs 1 crore.

In yet another pro-youth move, the Government would give travelling allowance to the youth attending interviews for the State Government jobs.

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