New initiatives to empower youth through self-employment opportunities
To make the youth of the state self-reliant and financially empowered through self-employment, the present state government is moving forward with an innovative approach. The new initiatives taken to empower youth through self employment opportunities initiated by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu promises to generate new opportunities for the youth of the State.
To catch upon the ample opportunities of self employment in Hydro, Solar power, Fisheries, e-vehicles etc., as announced in the Budget is a sure-step to fulfill the guarantee of providing self-employment and startup assistance to the youth. To make realize the dreams of the youth, the government ensures for financial assistance under the 'Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Yojana', for machinery and equipments in Dental Clinics, purchase of e-taxi, installation of solar power projects upto 1 MW, fisheries projects etc. along-with other enterprises.
The first ever initiative to link energy sector with self-employment in renewable energy upto the Gram Panchayat level, has revealed the farsightedness of Chief Minister wherein the youth of the state will be given 40 per cent subsidy to set up solar power projects of 250 KW to 2 MW capacity on their own or leased land. This was done with a view to enable youth to earn income by selling power to the State Electricity Board.
Another decision was to provide subsidy and promote electrical vehicles thereby opening new vistas of self-employment opportunities for the youth. In order to encourage the participation of the youth in the e-vehicle sector, private bus and truck operators will be given 50 percent subsidy with a maximum limit of Rs. 50 lakh on the purchase of e-bus and e-truck. The state government has also announced to provide a subsidy of 50 per cent uniformly to all eligible sections on purchase of e-taxi. Permits will be issued to youths to drive e-vehicles on identified bus routes. Private operators will be provided subsidy at the rate of 50 percent for establishing e-vehicle charging stations as well.
Taking a step ahead of energy production and water supply requirements of Himachal's reservoirs and rivers, efforts were also seen in the budget to make fisheries a self-employment venture. In order to strengthen the economy and encourage the youth, 80 percent subsidy has been announced on the construction of ponds for fish farming. To increase the capacity of this sector, 120 new trout units will be constructed. Through new techniques like backyard fish farming, cage culture, re-circulatory aquaculture system (RAS) etc. youth will be provided opportunities to increase income in fisheries.
As employment and investment is equally co-related, necessary changes were made in the system to establish Himachal as an investment friendly state wherein around 90 thousand direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created by attracting industrial investment, for which measures have been already taken.
'Mukhya Mantri Rozgar Sankalp Seva' was another announcement made in the budget session for providing employment to the youth. This will give an opportunity to the youth of remote areas with avenues of employment available at the state, national and international levels. Apart from this, the state government has announced to fill 25 thousand different working posts in the government sector this year. 5000 posts will also be filled in Jal Shakti Department.
These steps will prove fruitful in providing better opportunities for employment and self-employment to the youth as well as in giving a concrete shape to the guarantee of providing employment given in the Congress manifesto.