Kolkata, February 15 The West Bengal government began operating camps on Sunday to register unemployed youth, providing them with financial assistance under the new 'Banglar Yuba Sathi' scheme, launched in the run-up to the assembly elections.
The camps, which are operating in all 294 assembly constituencies, will also accept new applications for other welfare schemes for women and farmers.
Long queues were seen at several camps, with participants, including post-graduates, expressing satisfaction with the new scheme, under which jobless youth aged 21-40 would receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 for a maximum period of five years.
The camps, which will operate from 10 am to 5 pm every day until February 26, will also receive applications for the 'Lakshmir Bhandar' direct benefit transfer scheme for women, and Krishak Bandhu and farm labourer allowance initiatives.
From Bolpur to Ballygunge, and Kakdwip to Kalimpong, thousands queued at the camps since this morning to register their names and details, as government officials manned the tables.
Binapani Devi, an elderly woman in Rampurhat in Birbhum district, said her son has gone out of the state in search of a job and has asked her to collect the form, which he will later fill out.
"My son asked me to collect the form on his behalf. Even receiving Rs 1,500 will provide him some relief from the severe financial crisis. But yes, a job is preferable to an unemployment allowance," she said.
Saptaparna Adhikari, a 30-year-old woman in Kolkata's Ballygunge, said, "The monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 will help me enroll in a course to improve my skills and secure a job."
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in the recent state budget, announced the 'Banglar Yuba Sathi' initiative, which will come into effect from April 1.
Protests were witnessed at Chanchol in Malda district and Chopra in Dakshin Dinajpur over alleged delays in processing forms, leading to long queues.
Police removed the protesters from the site, and the proceedings continued.
TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, "Lakhs of youth queued at camps across the state, and things went smoothly everywhere. One or two isolated incidents in such a large state do not reflect the overall situation."
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, questioned the need for physical camps instead of an online system.
Adhikari said 'Banglar Yuba Sathi' would also face the same fate as a similar scheme launched in 2013. He claimed that the previous initiative was supposed to provide allowances and jobs to 17 lakh applicants, but was effectively terminated, with no funds allocated since the 2017-18 financial year.
"The state government has deliberately closed job creation channels to avoid political and legal risks. We have information that the previous application lists have been destroyed," Adhikari alleged.
"Why is this government not allowing online applications for the 'Banglar Yuba Sathi' scheme? This too will face a similar fate as that of the previous scheme, as the state government does not have the resources," he added.
The ruling Trinamool Congress dismissed the criticism, accusing the BJP-led Centre of failing to generate sufficient employment and asserting that the state government remains committed to supporting job seekers.
State cabinet minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, "We don't announce any initiative to stop it. Mamata Banerjee maintains all schemes in accordance with its limited resources despite the Centre having blocked the state's dues."