Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while inaugurating the State Credit Seminar for the financial year 2024-25 organized by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) here today, said that on the basis of the available resources and banking structure in the state, a credit potential scheme of Rs 34,490 crore has been prepared by the NABARD for agriculture and allied activities, MSME and other priority sectors for the year 2024-25, which is eight percent higher than the last year.
He also formally released ‘NABARD State Focus Paper-2024-25 on the occasion. With the aim of socio-economic upliftment of the people, the state government has launched Mukhya Mantri Swablamban Yojana, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Mukhya Mantri Laghu Shopkeeper Kalyan Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Green Cover Mission, Mukhya Mantri Rojgar Sankalp Seva, Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Yojana besides start-ups etc., he said.
"I urge the banks to extend their active support in providing loans for proper implementation of these schemes so that farmers, horticulturists and youth can avail maximum benefits of these schemes" Sh. Sukhu remarked. As per RBI report none of the districts of the state falls in the category of 'credit deficient' districts. Although the credit flow in these districts is normal, the loan to deposit ratio of the state is 36.39 percent.
The Chief Minster expressed his concern that the 'loan to deposit ratio' in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Una, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba is consistently less than 40 percent. He said that NABARD has a major role in making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant. Climate change affected Himachal as well but to cope up with these conditions the state government has taken many steps. Green Industry and e-vehicles are being encouraged in the state in a big way, so that dependence on fossil fuels can be reduced.
He said that the state transport department has become the first department in the country to adopt e-vehicles. Along with this, 3000 diesel buses of HRTC are being replaced with e-buses in a phased manner and tender has been issued for 1300 e-buses, reiterated the Chief Minister.
Under the first phase of Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme 50 percent subsidy for the purchase of e-taxis is being provided and so far more than 1200 youth have applied for the same. e-charging stations are also being established for smooth operation of e-vehicles and till now 17 such stations have been established on the Kiratpur to Keylong Green Corridor and many more are being established throughout the state, said Sh. Sukhu. Operation of e-vehicles reflects the vision of the state government for environmental protection and taking a step ahead the purchase of petrol and diesel vehicles in government departments has been banned from January 1, 2024, he added.
The state government is also giving priority to exploit solar energy and a 32 MW capacity solar power project is being set up in Pekhubela of Una district, which will be ready in the month of February, said the Chief Minister. In the second phase of Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme, the government will provide assistance to unemployed youth to set up solar energy projects.
Under the scheme, unemployed youth will be able to set up 100, 200 and 500 kilowatt solar power centers on their own land and the state government will purchase electricity from them for 25 years to ensure that they can get a fixed income. Apart from this, a project is being set up with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to generate green hydrogen of one megawatt capacity, for which the tender process has been started, he remarked.
The state government will also commence schemes to strengthen the rural economy and efforts are afoot to promote natural farming. Recently the rate of milk purchase has been increased by six rupees. Our government will promote agriculture on the lines of industry and efforts are being made to promote dairy based industry and Rs 250 crore state-of-art Milk Processing Plant is being established at Dhagawar in Kangra district.
The Chief Minister honored the stakeholders of NABARD for their excellent performance in various development programs in Himachal Pradesh on the occasion. Officer-in-charge of NABARD, Dr. Vivek Pathania welcomed the Chief Minister while DGM Manohar Lal presented the vote of thanks.
Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mohan Lal Brakta, MLAs Ajay Solanki and Bhuvaneshwar Gaur, Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank Chairman, Devender Shyam, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank Chairman, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Jogindra Bank Chairman, Mukesh Sharma, Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Priyatu Mandal, Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Minister, Vivek Bhatia and senior officials were also present on the occasion amongst others.