Telangana: Disappointment grows as Congress govt delays Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme launch

The launch of the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme in Telangana has been delayed despite earlier announcements. With nearly 16 lakh applications filed, uncertainty looms as the government postpones implementation, leaving lakhs of youth anxious and disappointed.

Hyderabad: Nothing much seems to change with the Congress government. Just like applicants of several other schemes, those who applied for the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme are now a disappointed lot, with the government delaying its launch.

This comes after Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced that sanction letters to the beneficiaries would be distributed on Monday across the State. The identified beneficiaries were to receive these letters from June 2 to 9 in all Assembly constituencies. Training programmes were scheduled from June 10 to 15, followed by the grounding process (implementation of sanctioned support) from June 15.

---

However, all these plans have now been put on hold, though the government has not issued any official announcement regarding the delay.

Even Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy did not mention the scheme during his speech at the State Formation Day celebrations on Monday. This followed a few ministers raising concerns over the effective implementation of the scheme during a meeting with the Chief Minister.

From the time of the scheme’s announcement, there has been considerable confusion among the youth. Initially, applications were to be accepted until April 5, but the deadline was extended to April 14. A list of identified beneficiaries was to be prepared by May 20 at the mandal level, with a final list by May 31.

Nearly 16 lakh applications were filed by youth, and it is learnt that the government had selected close to five lakh beneficiaries, whose loan component was less than Rs 1 lakh. Sanction letters were to be issued to these beneficiaries in the first phase, beginning June 2.

At a meeting on Sunday, the government decided that a thorough scrutiny of applications was necessary and that only genuine applicants should receive sanction letters. The matter is expected to be discussed again at the cabinet meeting on June 5.

Amidst all these developments, apprehensions are growing among applicants that the government may reduce the number of beneficiaries or impose additional terms and conditions—a pattern seen with earlier schemes of this administration.

Given previous U-turns by the government, such as the four welfare schemes formally launched on January 26 but later restricted to implementation in only one village per mandal, Rajiv Yuva Vikasam applicants are now keeping their fingers crossed.