Goa to offer doles to jobless

Goa became the first state in the country to announce a dole for the unemployed, when chief minister Digambar Kamat presented the 2011-12 budget, obviously keeping the impending elections in mind. Other sops included pension to senior citizens and a package of schemes for farmers, the girl child and other weaker sections of the society. The monthly dole will be applicable only to unemployed under-graduates, who have been registered with the state employment exchange, and will be provided for a three-year period. The government has mooted a monthly unemployment subsistence allowance of a maximum of Rs 1,200 to those who have passed Class XII while those less qualified will receive less. “An allocation of Rs 50 crore has been set aside in the budget for the purpose,” chief minisetr Digambar Kamat said. Goa has around 50,000 unemployed youth in north Goa and 30,000 in south Goa registered with the employment exchange. “Around 20,000 are graduates and above in qualification while 20,000 are Class XII passed and 40,000 comprise matriculates and others,” sources said.