25-04-2025
- Business
- United News of India
UP govt to link grant-in-aid scheme with CM YUVA
Lucknow, April 25 (UNI) In a significant move aimed at the economic empowerment of Scheduled Castes (SC), the Uttar Pradesh government is set to link the grant-in-aid scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyudaya Yojana (PM-AJAY) with the Chief Minister Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (CM YUVA), official sources said here on Friday.
Sources said that acting on the vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this initiative will promote entrepreneurship among SC youth, particularly women, by making them self-reliant and encouraging business ventures.
Sources said that to enhance the effectiveness of the grant-in-aid scheme implemented by the Social Welfare Department, CM Yogi has directed that it be tied to employment-oriented training. He emphasised that the scheme must be executed to enable beneficiaries to utilise the grant amount productively, with a special focus on empowering women.
Sources said the scheme supports employment-based projects by organising SC beneficiaries under a cluster model.
"Each beneficiary is eligible for a grant of up to Rs 50,000 or 50 per cent of the project cost, whichever is lower. With the integration of CM YUVA, this grant will now serve as margin money, paving the way for easier access to institutional loans and enabling beneficiaries to start their enterprises," they said.
Sources said that this integrated approach is a strategic step towards elevating SC community above the poverty line by creating sustainable and respectable livelihood opportunities.
In a recent meeting of the Social Welfare Department, the CM stressed the importance of ensuring that the schemes deliver tangible results on the ground. He directed departments like MSME, the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and CM YUVA to collaborate and develop a joint action plan," they said.
Sources said under this innovative model, youth from the SC will benefit from comprehensive vocational training, mentorship, financial literacy and marketing support.
"These empowered entrepreneurs will also have access to loans under the CM YUVA scheme, which are backed by government guarantees. This initiative will enable them to establish small and medium-sized enterprises, creating self-employment opportunities and driving job creation for others," they said.
Sources said the programme highlights the Yogi government's steadfast commitment to fostering inclusive growth and driving the socio-economic transformation of the SC.
UNI AB PRS
