Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business and improving service delivery through digital governance. Chairing a review meeting of the Labour and Employment Department, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that all welfare schemes reach eligible beneficiaries in a timely and effective manner.
Emphasising the importance of citizen-friendly governance, Sukhu instructed the department to fully digitise and move online all processes related to certificates, licences, and other public services. He said the initiative would reduce inconvenience for citizens and improve transparency and efficiency in service delivery.
Reviewing employment-generation initiatives, the Chief Minister highlighted the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-up Scheme-2023, under which young entrepreneurs are being provided a 50 per cent subsidy for purchasing e-taxis. He announced that during the financial year 2026-27, an additional 500 youth would benefit from the scheme, for which a budgetary provision of ₹50 crore has been made.
He further stated that the government would also provide a 50 per cent capital subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 500 young beneficiaries for the purchase of e-rickshaws during the current financial year. The initiative aims to create self-employment opportunities while encouraging environmentally sustainable modes of transportation.
The Chief Minister said the state government has amended the Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1969, along with the relevant rules, to facilitate business operations and strengthen the investment climate in the state. Under the revised provisions, the Act will be implemented more effectively across Himachal Pradesh, and shops and commercial establishments will now be allowed to operate round the clock.
According to Sukhu, the decision is expected to boost commercial activity, provide greater flexibility to entrepreneurs, and offer enhanced convenience to consumers. He added that the government is continuously working to simplify regulatory compliance and make business operations more efficient and investor-friendly.
At the same time, he stressed that the welfare and rights of workers remain a key priority of the government and that economic growth must go hand in hand with labour protection.
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Priyanka Basu Ingty, Labour Commissioner Virender Sharma, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
