3 months ago
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Thousands of young radical crossed West Bengal queued up connected Sunday (February 15, 2026) to capable successful registration forms for the Banglar Yuva Sathi Scheme which provides an unemployment allowance of ₹1,500 per month.
The strategy was announced by the State government during the State Budget for the fiscal twelvemonth 2026-2027, and is present being touted by the ruling Trinamool Congress arsenic a large canvass plank for the upcoming Assembly election.
Announcing the strategy connected February 5, 2026, State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said that the strategy is for anyone aged 21 to 40 years who has passed the Madhyamik examination, is unemployed, and is not covered nether immoderate authorities societal information scheme, barring acquisition benefits oregon scholarships. Under the scheme, beneficiaries volition beryllium entitled to a monthly assistance of ₹1,500 till they get employment, oregon up to 5 years, whichever is earlier.
Preponed implementation
The State authorities has allocated ₹5,000 crore for the strategy successful the Budget for the adjacent fiscal year. Though the Budget had projected that the strategy commence from August 15, 2026, a fewer days later, the authorities announced that strategy implementation had been preponed to February 2026.
To footwear disconnected the scheme, camps were acceptable up successful each Assembly constituencies of the State, and volition run till February 26. It is apt that the scheme’s allowance volition beryllium credited to beneficiaries earlier the Assembly election, scheduled successful the adjacent fewer months.
Throughout the State, young radical — peculiarly men — could beryllium seen queueing up to capable the forms for the Banglar Yuva Sathi, arsenic astir of the State’s women are already enrolled nether the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. In the State Budget, the Trinamool Congress authorities besides accrued the entitlement of Lakshmir Bhandar by ₹500. This means that entitlement for wide class women has accrued to ₹1,500 and to ₹1,700 for those successful a reserved category.
BJP response
The determination to springiness an unemployment allowance to young radical has evoked beardown reactions from Opposition parties successful the State, peculiarly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Questioning the request for carnal camps alternatively of online registration, the Leader of Opposition successful the State Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said that the Trinamool Congress authorities was not successful favour of instauration of jobs.
“The State authorities has deliberately closed occupation instauration channels to debar governmental and ineligible risks. We person accusation that the erstwhile exertion lists person been destroyed,” Mr. Adhikari claimed.
Limited resources
The BJP person added that the caller Banglar Yuba Sathi would look the aforesaid destiny arsenic the Yuva Shree strategy launched successful 2013 to supply allowances and jobs to 17 lakh applicants. Mr. Adhikari said that strategy had efficaciously been terminated, with nary funds allocated since the 2017-18 fiscal year.
State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said that the BJP’s disapproval has nary substance, adding that determination is thing incorrect with a strategy to supply an unemployment allowance.
Ms. Bhattacharya said that earlier, the BJP would criticise the Lakshmir Bhandar strategy and present it is promising to summation entitlements nether the scheme. “We don’t denote immoderate inaugural to halt it. Mamata Banerjee maintains each schemes successful accordance with its constricted resources contempt the Centre having blocked the State’s dues,” she added.
