Rajasthan govt plans makeover of ‘yuva mitra’ scheme, aims to hire 21k Raj youths

JAIPUR: The BJP govt is all set to introduce a Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme for youths in the state and is preparing a roadmap to appoint nearly 21,000 eligible ones under the scheme.
The current dispensation had earlier cancelled a similar programme of the previous Congress govt, the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra Scheme, which resulted in protests by ‘yuva mitras’ who lost their jobs for over two months, demanding reinstatement in govt jobs.
As per the proposal, all youths — aged between 21 and 30 years and have passed their Class 12, undergraduate and postgraduate studies in first division — will be eligible for jobs under the new programme,
“Selected youths will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 18,000 along with an additional Rs 5,000 based on their work methods and performance. Initially, they will be hired for two years, with an option to extend it by another year. Employment will be given to youths aged between 21 and 30 years. The age limit for the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra scheme was between 21 and 40 years,” sources said.
They will work in offices of district collectors as well as with additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries. “The proposal is waiting for the chief minister’s approval. The announcement is likely to be made during the Budget,” the source said.
Before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force in the state for Lok Sabha elections, around 5,000 ‘yuva mitras’ had held protests after the govt decided to cancel the scheme. They were given stipends and engaged to create awareness about govt schemes.
“Eligible youths will be recruited directly without exams. They will get govt holidays. They will ideate and assist in presenting new plans to improve the state's schemes,” a source said.
Meanwhile, the ‘yuva mitras’ continued with their protests, demanding reinstatement, across the state on Wednesday.