The West Bengal government has allocated Rs 250 crore for introducing a scheme for generating employment for the urban youth, on the lines of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said that funds allocated for this purpose this year may be augmented according to requirement. Similar schemes have been declared in Tripura and Kerala as well.
The scheme, announced by Dr Dasgupta during his budget presentation on March 22, 2010, provides employment opportunity for local unemployed youths who have to come together in groups of 10 or more to be covered under this scheme. There will be separate groups for males and females; each groupheaded by a supervisor. No contractor will be appointed under this scheme. A state-level committee headed by a senior officer of the Urban Development Department will be set up for the scheme’s overall supervision and monitoring.