Target 50,000 Yojanadoots, but govt appointed only 580

Mumbai: In its budget in July, the Mahayuti govt announced the Yojanadoot scheme, meant to employ 50,000 youths to publicise govt programmes. However, it has now emerged that only around 580 youth received appointment orders in three-and-a-half months, which is just 1% of the target.
After complaints from the Opposition that the Yojanadoot scheme violated the Model Code of Conduct, the state govt stayed any publicity work undertaken by the scheme on Friday."Since publicity of govt schemes is not permitted, they will not receive compensation during this period," a govt press note said. The scheme was meant to provide a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month during a 6-month internship period.
However, a review of the scheme showed that there were barely any applicants, sources said. In some cases, there was a single applicant who was then appointed, sources said. Director General of Information and Publicity Brijesh Singh did not respond when asked to comment. Skill Development Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha said, "The applications were in thousands. But now the scheme has been stayed because of the Model Code of Conduct. It will resume after the elections."
The Yojanadoot scheme was announced in the budget as part of the govt's internship scheme for youth or the Mukhya Mantri Karya Prashikshan Yojana. The applicants for the scheme have to be between 18 and 35 years. The aim of the Yojanadoot scheme is to publicise welfare schemes of the govt and to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship among youth. — Priyanka Kakodkar