Shimla:

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business and improving public service delivery through digital governance. Chairing a review meeting of the Labour and Employment Department on Tuesday, the Chief Minister directed officials to fully digitize and make online all departmental services, including the issuance of certificates and licenses, to ensure greater convenience for citizens.

Reviewing the progress of various welfare schemes being implemented by the department, Sukhu instructed officials to ensure that benefits reach all eligible beneficiaries in a timely and effective manner. He emphasized the need for a transparent and citizen-friendly service delivery mechanism that minimizes procedural hurdles.

The Chief Minister highlighted the success of the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-Up Yojana 2023, under which eligible youth are being provided a 50 percent subsidy for the purchase of e-taxis. He announced that during the financial year 2026-27, an additional 500 young people will be provided with a 50 percent subsidy to purchase e-taxis.

To support this initiative, the state government has allocated ₹50 crore in the budget. The scheme is aimed at creating self-employment opportunities for youth while promoting environmentally sustainable transportation across the state.

Sukhu further announced that during the current financial year, 500 youth will also be provided a 50 percent capital subsidy for purchasing e-rickshaws through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The initiative is expected to strengthen self-employment opportunities while encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly modes of transport.

The Chief Minister said the state government has amended the Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1969, along with related rules, to encourage trade and industrial growth and improve the ease of doing business 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. The government believes the move will boost commercial activity, provide greater flexibility to entrepreneurs, and offer consumers the convenience of shopping according to their needs and schedules.

Sukhu stated that the government is continuously working towards simplifying and strengthening the compliance framework to create a more business-friendly environment. At the same time, he emphasized that the protection of workers’ rights and their welfare remains an equal priority for the state government.

“The government is committed to making business operations easier and more efficient while ensuring that labour welfare and workers’ rights are safeguarded,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Priyanka Basu Ingti, Labour Commissioner Virender Sharma, and other senior officials of the department.

The review meeting underscored the Himachal Pradesh government’s dual focus on fostering entrepreneurship, generating employment opportunities, and modernizing administrative processes through digital transformation, while maintaining strong labour welfare safeguards.