Date:20/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/20/stories/2004112005490600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

'Rajiv Yuva Shakthi' scheme launched

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 19. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today launched the `Rajiv Yuva Shakthi' (RYS), a Rs. 321-crore self-employment scheme for one lakh youth. He said the scheme would be scaled up to a Rs. 1000- crore programme covering three lakh youth next year.

He announced other benefits too for the unemployed and others.

He said the qualifying age for the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission's posts would be extended up to 41years. Steps had been taken to fill vacant posts in various departments.

Six more youth hostels would be built in as many districts this year taking the total to 11and some more will be built later to see that every district had one such hostel.

Dr. Reddy said of the Rs. 321-crore outlay for the RYS, the banks had agreed to sanction Rs. 221 crores as loans.

The State Government's subsidy component was Rs. 70 crores and Rs. 30 crores was the beneficiary's contribution as margin money.

The importance given by his Government to the self-employment of youth now could be gauged from the fact that the budget of the Department of Youth Services was just Rs. 6 crores last year.

"We believe in action and not words and we have cleared projects costing Rs. 25 crores during the last 15 days after the GO was issued."

Training for youth

His Government had rolled out a red carpet to investors from outside to set up industries in the State, assuring land at reasonable rate, quality power and infrastructure facilities, basically for creating job opportunities for the youth.

Similar emphasis would be laid on the IT industry and the business process outsourcing. Dr. Reddy handed over sanction letters to a few beneficiaries, including a disabled youth.