Kerala’s unemployment allowance scheme still follows outdated eligibility rules which launched 43 years ago. Young unemployed people of Kerala are still waiting for the monthly allowance of ₹120. Around 286 individuals continue to receive the allowance.
The eligibility criteria, established when the scheme was launched 43 years ago, are still in effect. Annual family income must not exceed ₹12,000, and the applicant’s monthly income should be under ₹100. To apply for Unemployment Allowance, the candidate must have a registration seniority of at least 3 years after reaching 18 years of age.
The upper age limit is 35 years, and the educational qualification for the general categories is SSLC Pass. In the case of Scheduled tribe/caste candidates, they should have at least appeared for the SSLC examination after regular. The surprising fact is that even today, 286 people still meet these conditions.
The department has repeatedly requested the government to update the criteria, but no action has been taken. In 2024, 2,019 people received unemployment benefits, compared with 19 lakh beneficiaries in 2015. Currently, the highest number of recipients is in the Alappuzha district (138), followed by Kottayam (26) and Idukki (25).
Only one person each receives benefits in Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad, while no recipients are recorded in Kannur and Kasaragod. Local bodies received 24 new applications for unemployment benefits in 2024.
While ₹26.54 crore was distributed in 2014 and ₹37.37 crore in 2015, last year’s disbursement amounted to just ₹14.14 lakh. Similarly, applications for self-employment assistance have declined. Where financial aid of up to ₹25 crore was provided a decade ago, only ₹7.34 crore was distributed in 2024.
