UP govt lowers age for unemployment allowance eligibility

An order to this effect was issued by Principal Secretary Employment Shailesh Krishna during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to review the unemployment scheme.

During the review, the Chief Minister directed that the rule book of the scheme be amended immediately keeping in view the problems being faced by the applicants.

As per the new order, those unemployed in the 25-40 age group would be eligible for the allowance. Earlier, this age limit was 30-40 years.

The government has also amended the conditions of registration at employment exchange. Under the new system, applicants who get themselves registered by August 31, would start getting the allowance from next month of submitting application.

As per the amendment a person, whose annual income is Rs 36,000 or less and is registered at employment exchange, would be considered as unemployed.

It has been also been decided to accept income certificate of the family issued by tehsil office and a separate certificate from the employment department would not be required.

The government has also simplified the application form and now applicants would not be required to give details of movable and immovable assets. It has waived the condition of submitting an affidavit with the form.