Spurt in allowance seekers to add to UP's financial woes

Even as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is all set to distribute cheques to unemployed youths on Sunday to formally launch the scheme, a spurt in the number of applicants has put the officials in a fix.

A whopping 50 lakh applications are expected to be submitted in the next few months adding to the financial woes of the state, which reeled under a debt burden of around Rs 2 lakh crore in the last financial year.

According to officials, this increase will require additional funds. The government has made a provision of Rs 1,100 crore for the unemployment allowance in the budget for the current financial year.

Labour department officials feel that the number of registered unemployed is likely to reach a staggering 50 lakh in the next few months.

“The registration is continuing though the government has made it clear that those registering themselves now will have to wait for the allowance till the next financial year,” the officials said.

The officials said the registrations witnessed a sudden spurt in the past few days. They attribute it to the amendments to the guidelines for the allowance that withdrew the earlier provision that those who get the dole will also have to work.

The number of registration in January stood at little over 10 lakh but it jumped to over 29 lakh in May and further went up to over 37 lakh, the officials said.

Akhilesh has been making all efforts to turn the dole distribution a grand political event. The chief minister himself will give out cheques to thousands of unemployed youths on Sunday next.

The party leaders said the chief minister wanted to send the message to the youths that the government had fulfilled its commitment despite funds crunch.

The government said class 10 passed unemployed youths between the age group of 35 and 45 will get the allowance of Rs 1,000 each.