Himachal Govt Expands Opportunities for Youth: CM Flags Off 20 E-Taxis under RGSSY
Shimla, July 5:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off 20 e-taxis from the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme (RGSSY). The state government, under this initiative, provides a 50% subsidy to eligible youth for the purchase of electric taxis. So far, ₹4.22 crore has been disbursed to 59 beneficiaries, and subsidies for 61 more recipients will be released shortly.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the scheme is not only offering self-employment opportunities to young people but also ensuring them a stable income for five years by integrating their services with government offices. The scheme also includes a provision for a two-year extension. He added that this initiative would help reduce the financial burden on the state in the long run.
He reiterated that environmental conservation is central to the government’s policy-making. “We are already witnessing the adverse impacts of climate change. In view of this, we are prioritizing green policies—promoting electric vehicles and green hydrogen is the need of the hour,” the CM said.
CM Sukhu highlighted that the government is creating both public sector job opportunities and avenues for self-employment. Efforts are also underway through the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC) to secure high-paying job placements for youth abroad, ensuring that ethical recruitment practices are followed and exploitation is prevented.
Thanks to the government’s consistent efforts, HPSEDC has now been licensed as a recruitment agency, empowering it to sign MoUs with foreign consulates and train candidates to enhance their skills for overseas employment.
CM Sukhu also mentioned the transformative reforms undertaken across government departments. Himachal Pradesh, which once ranked 21st nationally in education, has now climbed to 5th place—an achievement he attributed to the state government’s determined efforts to deliver quality education. He added that work is progressing to upgrade medical colleges across the state to match the standards of AIIMS Delhi, ensuring access to advanced healthcare for all.
Among those present at the event were Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, MLAs Harish Janartha and Sanjay Awasthi, Principal Advisor (Media) to the CM Naresh Chauhan, APMC Chairman Devanand Verma, OSD to the CM Gopal Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary RD Nazeem, Secretary Priyanka Basu, Director of Information and Public Relations Rajeev Kumar, and Labour Commissioner Dr. Virender Sharma, among other dignitaries.
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