Providing livelihood and encouraging entrepreneurship amongst the unemployed youth is the main thrust area of the State Government. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the meeting to review skill upgradation initiatives of the State Government here today.The Chief Minister said that the State Government has started ‘Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojana’ to encourage local entrepreneurship and to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the State. He said that 25 per cent capital subsidy on plant and machinery was being provided on investment upto Rs 40 lakh. The women entrepreneurs were being provided a capital subsidy of 40 per cent. In addition, interest subsidy of 5 per cent for three years was also being provided for a loan upto Rs 40 lakh.Jai Ram Thakur said that the endeavour of State Government was to make Himachal Pradesh a fully skilled State of the country. The State Government was endeavouring to ensure skill upgradation of the youth as per the demand of industrial units functioning in the State. This would not only provide them ample employment in private sector but also open new vistas for self employment. He said that the State Government was also contemplating to launch 'Atal Himachal Swavalamban Abhiyan' for skill upgradation of the youth.
Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working with the motto of 'Kaushal Se Swavalamban'. He said that the Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam was functioning in the State for Skill upgradation of the youth. He said that efforts would be made to converge various schemes for Skill development so as to ensure better results of the same. Jai Ram Thakur said that initiatives such as skill maps and skill gap survey would be done so that effective strategies could be chalked out for skill upgradation programmes. He said that the State Government would provide all possible help to the private entrepreneurs to start their skill upgradation centres.Jaikant Singh of Rashtriya Kaushal Vikas Nigam gave a detailed presentation on the occasion regarding initiatives to be taken for skill upgradation programme. Industries Minister Bikram Singh said that the State Government would ensure that all the skill upgradation schemes were effectively implemented in the State for betterment of the youth.Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, Additional Chief Secretary-cum- Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary RD Dhiman, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu, Director IT Rohan Chand Thakur, Director Tourism Rakesh Kanwar and other senior officers were present on the occasion.