Job opportunity for the unemployed poor

The municipal administration here will provide profitable job opportunities for the unemployed or underemployed poor belonging to the 10,379 below poverty line families residing within the town limit, on an outlay of Rs.12.1 lakh during the current fiscal.

The fund was allocated on 75:25 basis between the Centre and State under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana.

According to S.A. Rajagopal, municipal engineer, the entire scheme is divided into two distinct components namely Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP) and Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP), for its easy implementation.

"Under the USEP, assistance will be provided to individual beneficiaries to make them employable."

Mr. Rajagopal said 62 persons would be trained in trades like computer, nursing, tailoring, etc., all at a cost of Rs.1.25 lakh.

Besides, financial assistance would be extended to women self-help groups under a sub-scheme titled `Development of Women and Children in the Urban Areas (DWCUA)'.
"An amount of Rs.3.75 lakh was earmarked as subsidy under the DWUCA to 13 women SHGs," he said.
Apart from the subsidy, Rs.1.60 lakh would be disbursed as revolving fund to select eight women SHGs, which were registered as thrift and credit society.

Further, self-employment subsidy to the tune of Rs.1.25 lakh would be given to the banks towards lending loans to eligible individuals under the USEP.

On the UWEP component, Mr. Rajagopal said Rs.4.80 lakh was allocated for the construction of one black top road and one drain in the town.

"These infrastructure development works provide employment to people below poverty line within the jurisdiction of urban local bodies," he added.

He said Rs.1.47 lakh out of the total project cost of Rs.12.1 lakh, would be utilised to conduct awareness campaigns on women development schemes and measures to counter Chikungunya.

Source: The Hindu