Allowance to jobless youth: Himachal govt weighs options
With the elections scheduled this year-end and amidst mounting pressure from its own party to fulfill the promised unemployment allowance, HP government on Thursday weighed its options to grant monthly allowance to the jobless.
The demand from its party for fulfilling promises made in election manifesto has seemingly added to dilemma of chief minister ’s government. The demand for allowance has snowballed into a political row. Strong section in the ruling Congress is continuously harping upon government to fulfill the promised unemployment allowance where as chief minister has cited financial constraint.
Liabilities and loans of the government have increased to ₹50,000 crore. While granting unemployment allowance to jobless will put more burden on the state but party has now been insisting the government to find a way out since unfulfilled poll manifesto will impact its image. BJP is already weaving the Congress’s unfulfilled election promises to build up an anti- government campaign. In wake of the mounting pressure, the government is now weighing its options to grant allowance to the jobless belonging to the families categorised in the BPL category. Highly placed sources have told HT that the CM, who also holds the finance portfolio, is said to have directed the finance department to work out the expenditure that will be incurred on the government exchequer. The state cabinet that met here on Thursday deliberated on the issue.
WHAT WAS THE PROMISE
An unemployment allowance of ₹1,000 per month will be given to all 10+2 and graduates and unemployed youths of the state whose total family income is up to ₹20, 0000 per annum. Handicapped graduate unemployed youths will be given and unemployment allowance of ₹1,500 per month.
HP’S FISCAL CONDITION
In 2011-12, the market loan share in total borrowing was 49%, which has reached to 59% by 2014-15. So far, this expenditure is uncontrollable and hurdle in elimination of revenue deficit and asset creation.
The state is though getting second highest revenue deficit grant in the court (₹40,625cr) under the 14th finance commission. Despite additional funding, nothing meaningful is expected to happen in the state.