Context: In order to encourage entrepreneurship, the Assam government has decided to provide Rs. 50 thousand to 2 lakh youths of the state under the renewed ‘Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) Yojana.’
About Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) Yojana

• It announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of Assam in his budget speech on 7th February, 2017, is a flagship program to provide financial support to the youths of Assam to take up income generating activities in the manufacturing, trading and service sector.

Objectives

• To generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas through setting up of new ventures as well as growing existing ventures.
• To provide financial assistance to micro and small business entities engaged in the manufacturing, trading and services sector.
• To provide financial assistance for enhancement of income level of traditional artisans ensuring sustainable growth.

Area of implementation

• All districts of Assam including autonomous district councils

Coverage and targeted group

• About One lakh youth of Assam will be provided suitable credit support for taking up income generating enterprises.
• The number of beneficiaries will be selected in a district in proportion to the population.

Nature of activities: Manufacturing; Processing; Service Sector; Trading; Rural Transport Service (Auto Rickshaw, e-Rickshaw); Tourism and Shops, repairing Centres, Handicraft, Cottage Industries etc.
Negative list of activities: Manufacturing of intoxicant items; Beedi, Panmasala, Cigarette, etc.; Sales outlet of Liquor; Plastic bags below 40 microns
Eligibility criteria for the beneficiary:

• Residents of Assam above 18 years of age.
• There will be no income ceiling for getting assistance under this scheme.
• The individual beneficiary should have skills, experiences, knowledge, etc., to undertake the income generating activities.
• The beneficiary should possess educational qualification of at least Class VII standard.
• The beneficiary who has already completed Skill Development Training will begiven preference.
• The beneficiary must not be the defaulter of any loan. If information submittedby the beneficiary is found to be incorrect later, action would be taken against the beneficiary including cancellation of loan, recovery of amount as Bakijai andalso blacklisting for future benefit under any Govt. Scheme.
• PMEGP beneficiaries of the last 5 years will not be eligible under the scheme.

Current Scenario

• As such, the SVAYEM scheme has been re-launched to benefit 2 lakh youths of Assam.
• The total budget of the scheme is Rs. 1000 crore which will be given entirely from government funding. 
• The beneficiaries would include all members of self help groups, joint liability groups and other such groups and federations that have organised themselves for entrepreneurial projects.
• Only those groups that have been formed prior to 1st September could avail the benefits. Each member of every group will be provided Rs. 50,000 as seed capital.
• Further, the self help groups will also be provided with free government contracting licenses. 
• The age limit for availing benefits under SVAYEM scheme is 40 years, and members of the beneficiary groups must all be HSLC pass.

Additional Information

• Bakijai Case: Bakijai Branch deals with recovery, as public demands of loans advanced by banks and other financial institutions to persons under schemes framed and or approved by the Government of Assam for providing opportunities for employment or for assisting agricultural or industrial activities and purposes.
• HSLC: The High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) is awarded after school students successfully complete the curriculum and examinations of schools affiliated to various boards in India. For eg. Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) announced results of High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC).
• The board came into existence on 14th March 1962. SEBA improve the quality of the secondary education of the people of entire North East in general and Assam in particular.
• The board is located at Bamunimaidam Guwahati. SEBA works under ministry government of the state in India.