Launch event held at Freedom Park in Shivamogga

Siddaramaiah gave away cheques to unemployed graduates

Scheme applicable only to unemployed graduates of Karnataka domicile

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the ‘Yuva Nidhi’ scheme for unemployed youth in Shivamogga, Karnataka, marking the fifth and final poll guarantee by the Congress party.

The initiative extends unemployment assistance to graduates and diploma holders who completed their degrees in the academic year 2022-23. Under this scheme, the government commits to providing Rs 3,000 per month to degree holders and Rs 1,500 per month to diploma holders who have been jobless for the past six months and are not pursuing higher studies.

During the launch event held at Freedom Park in Shivamogga, Siddaramaiah personally handed out cheques to unemployed graduates from different parts of the state. Notable figures like Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, along with ministers Sharana Prakash Patil, Madhu Bangarappa, Mankale Vaidya, and MC Sudhakar, were also in attendance.

The initial allowances are set to be disbursed shortly after the program’s launch, as indicated by the organizers. Sharanaprakash Patil, responsible for implementing the Yuva Nidhi scheme, clarified in a statement that the benefits are applicable exclusively to graduates and diploma holders with Karnataka domicile.

This initiative is the latest addition to the Congress government’s series of guarantees, which include ‘Shakti’ providing free bus rides to Karnataka women in non-luxury government buses, ‘Anna Bhagya’ offering 10 kg of rice to BPL families, ‘Gruha Jyoti’ granting free electricity up to 200 units for household users, and ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ pledging Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to women heads of families holding APL/BPL ration cards.