Kerala Cabinet revises ‘Connect to Work’ scheme to expand youth employment support

The Kerala government has updated the framework of its Connect to Work initiative, clearing revised eligibility and funding norms to strengthen employment readiness among young people across the state.

A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, approved the changes on Jan 14.

Under the revised criteria, applicants must be permanent residents of Kerala, between 18 and 30 years of age, and belong to families with an annual income of up to ₹5 lakh.

The scheme will be open to youth enrolled in skill development programs at recognized government, public sector, or private institutions, including universities and deemed universities.

It will also cover candidates preparing for competitive examinations conducted by the UPSC, Kerala PSC, Staff Selection Commission, armed forces, banks, railways, and other central and state recruitment bodies.

The Cabinet further decided to extend scholarship support to the first five lakh eligible applicants.

Selected beneficiaries will receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,000 for a period of 12 months, credited directly to their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.

Implementation of the scheme will be handled by the Employment Department, with applications to be submitted through the portal eemployment.kerala.gov.in.

According to the statement, the program is designed to build confidence among young people, sustain their motivation for learning, and improve employability through structured skill development and financial assistance.