42000 enrolled,only 49 get jobless allowance

According to sources,“About 42,000 unemployed persons have registered their names in the Department of District Bureau of Employment Generation and Training,Ludhiana,but the unemployment allowance is disbursed only to 49 out of them due to the strange conditions laid by the government.”

The unemployment allowance is disbursed to these candidates on quarterly basis. In the current year,an amount of Rs 45,315 has been disbursed among these candidates. The candidates who get this allowance have to give an affidavit for this.

As per this rule,“An eligible candidate — aged between 17 to 49 years — should be a domicile of Punjab. The family income of the candidate should not exceed to Rs 12,000 per annum. For general category candidates,the applicant should be registered with the employment exchange in Punjab and continuously available on live register for three years. While deaf and dumb and blind candidates can get this allowance after three months of registration,the handicapped start getting after one year of registration.”

Daljeet Inder Kaur,Deputy Director,District Bureau of Employment Generation and Training,Ludhiana,said,“In general category,the unemployed allowance is disbursed at the rate of Rs 150 per month for those who are matriculate or above,but below graduates,and Rs 200 per month for the graduates/post graduates. Unemployment allowance is Rs 450 per month for matriculate or above but undergraduates,who are either blind or deaf and dumb. While the graduates or post-graduates of this category get Rs 600 per month. Rs 300 per month is given to the orthopaedic handicapped graduates or post-graduate. While those who are matriculate or undergraduate in this category get Rs 300 per month.”

An unemployed young man,Vikas Kumar,said,“The family income limit of Rs 12,000 per annum is a strange condition. It should be exceeded,so that more educated and unemployed youth can get this allowance.”

“The family income limit should be increased to make it meaningful,” says Rajesh Dhir,another unemployed youth,adding that the unemployment allowance too needed to be hiked.