Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched on Tuesday 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Nestam' programme benefiting over 2.15 lakh unemployed youth of the State initially.
Allaying fears of jobless youths in Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister said the unemployed graduate allowance scheme -- Mukhyamantri Yuva Nestham -- will not be discontinued midway like the case in other states and that it has not been rolled out eyeing electoral gains.
Naidu said corruption will not be tolerated when about 20,000 vacant government posts are being filled and that private jobs will also be given to local youths.
Touted as first of its kind in India, the scheme has attracted 6 lakh youth registering for Rs. 1000/- per month unemployment allowance, of which 2 lakh were found to be eligible. In the past, many states have initiated and wound up such 'Dole for the Jobless' schemes, essentially a western welfare state concept.
Naidu said Re 1 has been transferred to each account as a test transaction. The remaining Rs 999 will be transferred to the accounts on Wednesday.
Educated unemployed youths between the age of 22 to 35 years belonging to BPL category with ration cards are eligible for the scheme.
The unemployed youth allowance scheme was one of the poll promises of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in its election manifesto in 2014. The assembly poll is due next year.
Flanked on either side by his son Nara Lokesh, minister for IT & Panchayati Raj and Kollu Ravindra, minister for Welfare for Backward Class, Chandrababu Naidu spoke to the huge gathering, including 400 youth who got certificates. The scheme was simultaneously launched in 175 districts of Andhra Pradesh by the MLAs.
"This is not done for electoral gains. This has been done to build your (the youth) career and future. This scheme will not be discontinued in the middle like in other states," Naidu said responding to a query raised by a youth at the launch event here.
The government is facilitating companies to set up units in the state so that jobs are generated for locals, he said adding that companies will recruit those whose skills are up to industry standards.
The Nestham scheme has been designed in such a way that jobless graduates hone their skills as per the needs of the industry and even get training to become entrepreneurs, he added.
The state government has tied up with 24 companies, like Kia Motors, Branx, Foxconn and Amara Raja, to provide apprenticeship to those registered under the Nestham scheme. Even universities have been roped in for the scheme.
The chief minister said the scheme has been rolled out after studying various models in other states. It would be implemented successfully with the use of IT even as such programmes have failed due to poor implementation and technology in other states, he added.
When asked about possible corruption in the allotment of government jobs, Naidu said, "We have issued notification to hire about 20,000 people. If there is any corruption, you can dial 1100 and I will definitely take action. My desire is to run a corruption-free government."
He asked the youth to not worry about "few" IT jobs in the state as "better opportunities" would be created in the fields of hardware and electronics.
Stating that skilled persons can find jobs anywhere in the world, the CM urged the youth to increase their employability with extensive skill training as this would help the government create jobs in the state.
Responding to the demand of reservation for local people in private jobs, Naidu said, "Ninety nine per cent of jobs will go to local people. If there are any violation. I will take strict action."
The Kerala government is already running a similar unemployment allowance scheme. The Uttar Pradesh government had announced one such scheme in 2012 but it could not be implemented.