Maharashtra: Government Plans Massive Recruitment Of 'Yojana Doots' To Boost Scheme Awareness

The Maharashtra government has announced plans to recruit 50,000 young individuals as 'Yojana doots' ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. These youths will play a crucial role in spreading awareness about government-launched schemes, particularly focusing on those directly benefiting citizens as outlined in the state budget. Their responsibilities will extend beyond publicity to actively assisting citizens in accessing the benefits offered by these welfare programs.

However, the opposition has strongly criticized this move, labelling it as an electioneering tactic aimed at mobilizing youth support. Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition, voiced his concerns during a session in the legislative council, questioning the necessity of such a recruitment drive when the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) already handles government publicity efforts. He further raised doubts about the transparency of the recruitment process and the government's intentions behind this initiative.

Responding to these criticisms, Chandrakant Patil, the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, defended the government's decision, highlighting the allocation of Rs 53.66 crore towards establishing ten polytechnics as 'Centres for Excellence'. These centres are aimed at enhancing skill development, fostering self-employment, and promoting entrepreneurship among the youth. Minister Patil emphasized that the training provided at these institutes will equip approximately 10 lakh young individuals with valuable skills over a six-month period, during which they will also receive stipends.

Patil clarified that out of these 10 lakh youths, 50,000 will be designated as 'Yojana doots' tasked with facilitating easy access to government schemes for beneficiaries. He underscored the importance of creating specialized manpower through these 'Centres for Excellence', citing Solapur as an example where skilled technicians are needed to maintain and repair medical equipment.