In a major boost for the unemployed youth of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that the disbursement of funds under the ‘Yuva Saathi’ scheme will commence on April 1, 2026. Addressing a press conference at Nabanna on Tuesday, the CM advanced the launch date from the previously scheduled August 15 to synchronize with the start of the new financial year. Under this ambitious welfare scheme, eligible candidates will receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,500 directly into their bank accounts.

The project, which was initially highlighted during the interim budget by MoS Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya, aims to support job seekers aged between 21 and 40 years. To be eligible, a candidate must have passed the Madhyamik (Class 10) examination. The Chief Minister emphasized that while ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ provides a safety net for women, ‘Yuva Saathi’ is specifically designed to provide financial breathing room for young men and women struggling to meet the costs of competitive exams and job applications. The benefit will be available for a maximum period of five years.

How to Apply: To ensure grassroots reach, the government will set up application camps across all 294 Assembly constituencies in the state. These camps will operate from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Detailed advertisements regarding the location of these camps and the required documentation will be released in major newspapers shortly. Once the verification process is complete, the first installment will be credited on April 1. Despite political debates surrounding the timing of the scheme, the administration has cleared all hurdles to begin the rollout.