Bengaluru: While nearly 80% of beneficiaries under the state’s Yuva Nidhi unemployment scheme are non-engineering graduates, the linked skill-training initiative, Yuva Nidhi Plus, has seen poor uptake, officials said.Launched as part of the Congress govt’s five guarantees, Yuva Nidhi provides an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 a month to graduates who remain jobless for 180 days after graduation. Diploma holders are entitled to Rs 1,500 a month. The allowance is payable until employment is secured or for up to two years.
Overall, more than 2.9 lakh youth are currently drawing the allowance, with the govt having spent Rs 874.1 crore so far. Belagavi accounts for the highest number of registrations at 45,884, followed by Kalaburagi (26,701), Vijayapura (23,474), Raichur (22,645) and Bagalkot (22,607). Bengaluru Urban has 19,276 enrolled beneficiaries.Data from the department of skill education shows that over 3.7 lakh graduates had registered under Yuva Nidhi as of Jan 8. Of these, more than 3 lakh (79%) were graduates in non-engineering disciplines such as arts, science, commerce and management, while 27,843 (12%) were postgraduates in these subjects.In comparison, 43,529 engineering graduates and 374 postgraduate engineers have enrolled under the scheme. Another 4,250 engineering diploma holders and 2,870 other diploma holders have also applied.However, officials said participation in Yuva Nidhi Plus, a skill-based training programme linked to the allowance, has remained dismal. Under the initiative, beneficiaries are offered employability-focused training through institutions such as the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Karnataka (CEDOK), Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GTTC), Karnataka German Technical Training Institute (KGTTI), and vocational training providers empanelled with the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation.“The programme was designed to train 25,000 beneficiaries. But not even 10% turn up for the courses,” said Sharan Prakash Patil, minister for medical education and skill development. “Despite repeated follow-ups, many are reluctant, fearing they may lose the allowance during the training period. We have assured them this will not happen until they secure a job.”Highlighting the large number of engineering graduates availing of Yuva Nidhi, Patil said Karnataka produces about one lakh engineering graduates annually, of whom only 20,000-25,000 find employment each year. “Most struggle due to skill gaps,” he said, adding that the govt has invited companies to set up training centres within engineering colleges, with training costs borne by the state. “One such centre is already running successfully at PES University.“
