Over 2K youth secure jobs under govt scheme

Box— 3,545 got registered

As many as 3,545 people have registered under the scheme in various urban local bodies and 2,447 have been issued job cards across the state while 2,099 were assigned jobs.

Tribune News Service

Solan, October 7

More than 2,000 youth have availed jobs under the Mukhya Mantri Shahri Ajeevika Guarantee Yojana (MMSAGY), providing assured 120-day employment to the urban households since its notification in May.

As many as 3,545 people had registered under the scheme in various urban local bodies (ULBs) and 2,447 have been issued job cards across the state while 2,099 were assigned jobs. About 291 youth, however, refused to take the jobs provided under the scheme in sanitation and infrastructure-related works, officials of the ULBs informed.

The scheme caters to unskilled youth. It is being implemented in all 54 ULBs and cantonment boards till March 31, 2021, and was specially conceived in view of the job losses faced due to Covid. All adult members of a household, till the age of 65, are eligible to secure work under the scheme.

In Nahan, 252 youth were employed while in Paonta Sahib and Rajgarh, none availed its benefit. In Solan district, out of the five ULBs, only five youth were employed in Solan and Arki, while none opted for it in Nalagarh, Parwanoo and Baddi.

In the Chief Minister’s home turf Mandi district, 350 youth availed the jobs in ULB at Sarkaghat while none availed its benefits in six other ULBs. In Hamipur district, no youth has availed its benefit out of the four ULBs, though 50 youth had registered themselves.

Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said: “Directions have been issued to publicise the scheme so that more people can avail its benefits. I will interact with beneficiaries soon and I am sure more people will opt for it in the days to come.”

“I recently conducted a review meeting to gather feedback from the urban local bodies. As many as 3,545 people have been registered under this scheme in all ULBs, of which, 2,447 have been issued job cards across the state while none has been denied a job,” he added.

The scheme offers 120-day job guarantee to the residents of ULBs within 15 days of issuance of job cards, failing which Rs 75 per day would be paid as unemployment allowance.