India, March 8 -- West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a monthly allowance of Rs.1,500 for unemployed young job seekers to help them move towards self-reliance in the future.

The announcement, made on the eve of International Women's Day on March 8, came during her speech at the sit-in held against the large-scale deletion of names of voters by the Election Commission during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state, PTI news agency reported.

The announcement is crucial in that it comes ahead of the assembly elections scheduled to be held in West Bengal soon.

Mamata said that those who have passed secondary examination ( Class 10) will receive the monthly allowance. The Bengal CM said that young...