Karimnagar: Uncertainty clouds Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme as applicants await implementation

Unemployed youth who applied for the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme remain uncertain about receiving benefits as the programme has not progressed even a year after its announcement, despite lakhs of applications being submitted across Telangana.

Karimnagar: Unemployed youth who applied for the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme remain in a dilemma over receiving benefits as there has been no progress even a year after the scheme was announced.

Though the State government had announced on June 2, 2025 that benefits would be extended to six lakh unemployed youth across the State under the scheme, it has not materialised so far. With the government remaining silent on its implementation, many applicants are losing hope.

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Fulfilling a promise made ahead of the elections, the Indian National Congress government had announced the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme to provide self-employment opportunities to unemployed youth belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities. After announcing the scheme in March 2025, the government invited applications from March 15 to April 5. Following requests from applicants, the deadline was later extended until April 14.

The scheme was divided into four categories, with the government announcing 100 per cent subsidy for units costing up to Rs.50,000, 90 per cent subsidy for units up to Rs.1 lakh, 80 per cent subsidy for units up to Rs.2 lakh and 70 per cent subsidy for units costing up to Rs.4 lakh. Unemployed youth applied under different categories, and interviews were conducted at mandal parishad and municipal offices.

Initially, the government had planned to distribute sanction documents to beneficiaries on the occasion of Telangana State Formation Day on June 2. However, the programme was cancelled due to reasons that remain unclear.

It is learnt that the government did not launch the scheme anticipating negative results in gram panchayat and municipal elections. Lakhs of unemployed youth across the State had applied to establish self-employment units under the scheme. In Karimnagar district alone, 57,965 candidates applied, while officials in Peddapalli district received 47,613 applications.

Since the government had decided to ground the units in a phased manner, local Congress leaders reportedly informed the State leadership that launching the scheme ahead of local body elections could affect the party’s prospects. The government subsequently stalled the scheme citing a lack of funds. Neither the Chief Minister nor Ministers made any reference to Rajiv Yuva Vikasam during the gram panchayat and municipal election campaigns.

Applicants now express doubts about whether the scheme will be implemented and have urged the government to sanction the units and take steps to ground them at the earliest.