Himachal: Up to 40% subsidy to youth for purchase of transport vehicles

Chairing the 50th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Tribal Advisory Council here today, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government would provide up to 40 per cent subsidy to eligible youth on the purchase of buses and traveller vehicles, along with four month’s exemption from the road tax, to create livelihood opportunities through the transport sector in tribal areas.

The CM said the state government was giving top priority for creating employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth. “To promote self-employment in the solar energy sector in tribal regions, the government would provide interest subsidy for setting up private solar power projects ranging from 250 kW to One MW,” Sukhu said.

The Chief Minister directed the officers to complete tender process for development works in snow-bound areas at the earliest so that construction activities can begin in around March-April. He said that to permanently resolve power supply issues in Pangi and Spiti, solar power plants of 1.2 MW at Dhanwas (Pangi) and 2 MW at Rong-tong (Spiti) would be made functional soon.

Sukhu said the government was making concerted efforts to start the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki La, and the matter had been strongly taken up with the Central government. “Steps are also being taken to resume trade activities with Tibet,” he said. He further said the tribal areas of the state had witnessed unprecedented development. “These regions today show greater prosperity as compared to other parts of the state. The average per capita income in tribal districts is higher than in other districts and the male-female sex ratio was also better than the state average,” he said.

The CM said the government was committed to protecting the rights of women, especially in the tribal regions. He announced the construction of a new road at Nigulsari, the bottleneck on NH-5, a sinking zone and marred by landslides. He said that the government was also making sincere efforts to strengthen uninterrupted connectivity in Kinnaur district.

Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the land has been transferred for the construction of new campuses of the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Pangi, Bharmour and Lahaul. “Construction work is underway at the Pangi and Lahaul schools, while CPWD is completing the required formalities for the Bharmour school,” he said. A provision of Rs. 638.73 crore has been made for the Tribal Area Development Programme for 2025-26.