Chief Minister launches first phase of Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up scheme
500 permits for e-taxis would be issued in the first phase
20th November 2023
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched e-taxi scheme under the first phase of Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Yojna here today and the website of the Transport Department to provide the facility of online registration for e-taxis, through which applicants can get themselves registered by visiting the website within a period of one month.
The Chief Minister said 500 permits would be issued in the first phase and the number of permits will be increased as per the demand in the near future. The state government would also provide e-taxi to the government departments in a phased manner to provide assured source of income to the unemployed youth.
He said that the government was also providing 50 percent subsidy to the youth for the purchase of e-taxi and the conditions for taking loan under this scheme will also be relaxed, he added.
Sh. Sukhu said that this scheme would go a long way in minimizing air pollution and assist making Himachal Pradesh a Green Energy State by 31st March, 2026 together with providing self employment avenues to the youth. He said that the state government was also providing 50 percent subsidy on the purchase of e-buses and e-trucks. The state government had also issued 24 permits to private bus operators for e-buses. The infrastructure for charging of e-vehicles was being developed in the state adding that 17 e-charging stations would be installed in the next two months. Besides, the Transport Department was also setting up e-charging stations in a phased manner.
All the diesel buses of Himachal Road Transport Corporation will be replaced by e-buses in a phased manner and 300 e-buses were being purchased in the first phase, said the Chief Minister.
Under the second phase of Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme, the youth would be encouraged to set up the solar energy projects which would also be a good source of income for the youth. The draft of this scheme was being finalized and soon this scheme will also be rolled-out, he said. The youth would be provided subsidy for agriculture related work under the third phase of the scheme. A scheme was also being prepared to provide 90 percent subsidy to youth for pisciculture, he added.
The start-up scheme for the youth was one of the key promises made in the Pratigya Patra of the Congress Party and all the promises were being fulfilled by the Government. He said that the state government has restored the old pension in the very first cabinet meeting and all the promises will be fulfilled.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sanjay Awasthi, MLAs Kuldeep Singh Rathore and Bhawani Singh Pathania, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Bharat Khera, Principal Secretary, Transport RD Nazim, Secretary Home Dr. Abhishek Jain, Labour Commissioner Mansi Sahay Thakur, Director Transport Anupam Kashyap and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
