23,000 youths get monthly allowance to search for jobs

A total of 23,000 youths in the age group of 20-25 years have so far got monthly allowance of Rs 1000 to help them search for jobs after clearing 12th standard, state Assembly was informed today.
Payment of monthly allowance of Rs 1000 for two years forms part of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "seven resolves" which has been adopted by the Grand Alliance government.
Planning and Development Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan said that out of the 35,000 youths identified in the first year of the scheme, 23,000 have received money so far.
He said that the allowance was being given to only those youths in the age bracket of 20-25 who have stopped studying after clearing 12th standard and looking for jobs.

While announcing the programme, the CM had said that the allowance was meant to help the youths meet expenditure like travel, food and lodging in course of looking for a job for themselves without bothering the family.
The minister said that registration centre of youths to avail this allowance is functional in all 38 districts of the state.

Singh rejected the demand of some members to extend the benefit to those who continue with their study or who are looking for job after study beyond 12th standard.
For them, he said, there are programmes like providing venture capital for starting business and provision of interest free loan of Rs 4 lakh for pursuing higher education.

He also clarified that its not an unemployment allowance but an allowance to help themselves search for a suitable employment.