Assam launches self-employment scheme of ₹1000 crore to help 2 lakh youth

The scheme was part of the BJP-led government’s budget speech in 2017-18, but instead of benefitting 100,000 young men as planned it managed to get only around 7,000 beneficiaries due to lack of adequate support from banks.

Published on: Jan 20, 2021, 20:42:02 IST

By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Assam government on Wednesday re-launched an old scheme with the aim of providing self-employment avenues to around 200,000 young men of the state.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (fourth from right) handing over a cheque to a beneficiary of Re-SVAYEM at an event in Guwahati on Wednesday. (Twitter/Himanta Biswa Sarma)

Called Redesigned Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (Re-SVAYEM), the scheme worth ₹1000 crore will provide ₹50,000 each as seed money to selected youth to start business ventures.

The scheme was part of the BJP-led government’s budget speech in 2017-18, but instead of benefitting 100,000 young men as planned it managed to get only around 7,000 beneficiaries due to lack of adequate support from banks.

“This path breaking scheme won’t be restricted to just 200,000 young men. In the coming days, we will enlist more eligible youth in the scheme to help them become economically independent,” said chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the ceremonial launch of the scheme in Guwahati.

To claim benefit of the scheme, the applicants will have to be below 40 years of age, must have passed Class X and should be part of existing self-help groups (SHGs).

According to state finance and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Re-SVAYEM is the biggest self-employment programme launched by any government in Assam since independence.

“This scheme is aimed at providing working capital support to enterprising individuals and groups to undertake new activities or expanding existing enterprises,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.