Himachal Pradesh is an all-time favourite destination for tourists, and for lovers of nature and solitude. And, some of the best businesses to start in Himachal Pradesh are – floriculture, boutiques, tourism-related service, computer-related service, e-waste recycling, mushroom & fruits farming, organic food stores.
So, if you are an aspiring women entrepreneur, here are some government incentives and schemes for the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• Startup India
It was after the launch of Startup India initiative, Himachal Pradesh joined the Startup movement in November 2016. The mission of the State through this policy is – to turn the educated youth from job seekers to job creators, in order to give support to the ‘Startup’ and Innovation Projects in the State. The policy adopts a sector agnostic approach by providing incentives to Startups across sectors.
The policy incentives include: Setup incubators in leading educational institutions in the State. The assistance includes – sustenance allowance of INR 25000 per month for innovative projects; marketing and commercialization assistance of maximum of INR 10 lakh for innovative; projects entitlement to various other incentives under the Incentive Rules 2004.
The state has nominated HP Center for Entrepreneurship Development (HPCED) as the innovation society. HPCED would act as support center for Startups and undertake activities to develop Startup ecosystem in the State. They will interact with the entrepreneurs, identify their capacity building needs and liaise with institutions which can cater to their capacity-building needs; HPCED will also prepare training modules for their occupational, entrepreneurial or managerial skills.
Himachal Pradesh has performed remarkably well in the State Startup ranking exercise 2018, and was acknowledged an ‘Aspiring Leader’ in the State Startup Rankings 2018 conducted by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India.
Some of the key facts associated with the Startup initiative are as stated here. Government of Himachal Pradesh launched its Startup policy in November 2016 called “Chief Minister’s Startup or Innovation Projects or New Industries Scheme”. The vision of the policy is to turn the educated youth from job seekers to job creator and in order to give support to the ‘Startup’ and Innovation Projects in the State.
The nodal department for Startup is Department of Industries and Nodal officer for Startup is Principal Secretary (Industries). Startup portal startuphimachal.hp.gov.in/home is available with
following services:
Startup registration, Idea registration, Mentor List, Incubator List, Application for various policy
incentives such as sustenance, Allowance, incubation, etc.
• Mukhyamantri Swavalamban Yojana (MSY)
Recognising a great need to promote self-employment, the state government of Himachal Pradesh took a step in this direction and announced a new scheme for the youth of the state. These projects will not only explore the possibilities of self-employment but will also encourage all those related to it. In this way, the scheme named Mukhyamantri Swavalamban (MSY) will explore the possibility of new job in the field of self-employment. Several schemes have been announced along with this scheme, especially the Housing Benefit Scheme which will work at the regional level just like the Ujjwala scheme of Central.
The main purpose of the state government can be to motivate the youth to self-employment.
This should end the problem of job losses in the state. Young people are open to start their own business instead of searching for jobs, and they can also start their own business and become job-givers. In this way, if they can establish their own businesses. If a woman candidate wants to start her business, then the government will provide subsidy of up to 30% on cost machinery as per her requirement of purchase, although her investment should not be less than 4 million.
https://hpkangra.nic.in/mukhyamantri-swavalamban-yojanamsy/
http://himachalpr.gov.in/PressReleaseByYear.aspx?Language=1&ID=26280&Type=2&Date=07/
08/2022
• Industrial Policy 2004 (Government of Himachal Pradesh Department of
Industries)
The objectives of the incentives, concessions and facilities being provided by The Industrial Policy 2004, are to achieve the aims and objectives announced by the Government in the Industrial Policy Guidelines from time to time; and to indicate the extent to which the State Government proposes to provide benefits, incentives, concessions and facilities to industrial enterprises to be set up in the State, on or after the appointed day. To supplement and support the Special Package of Incentives and Concessions announced by the Government of India on 7th of January 2003 for industrial enterprises to be set up in Himachal Pradesh. It also tries to encourage investment and optimum utilisation of the resources of the State namely power, land, capital, manpower and raw material in terms of revenue generation and generation of employment opportunities for local populace within the physical and environmental carrying capacities of the State; to facilitate the ease of doing business by simplifying the Rules and to promote transparency of procedures governing the establishment of Industrial Enterprises in the State; and to encourage the maximum gainful employment of Himachalis in the Industrial
Enterprises set up in the State.
Additional incentives are fabricated for the entrepreneurs who belong to special categories for setting up their own Micro and Small industrial enterprise. Special Category Entrepreneurs are the entrepreneurs who belong to Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes, Women, Ex-servicemen, Physically Handicapped persons (with a disability of more than 50%), BPL family category who set up new industrial unit(s) themselves. Such entrepreneurs are entitled to enjoy the following additional concessions/ facilities.
http://rajpatrahimachal.nic.in/openFile.aspx?etype=Notice&ID=4913
• Self employment assistance for women in Himachal Pradesh
Assistance Scheme to Women for Self-Employment in Himachal Pradesh was launched by Women and Child Development Department of Government of Himachal Pradesh. The objective of introducing this scheme is – to empower destitute women. The government provides financial assistance to eligible women to be self-employed.
The scheme provides a financial assistance of Rs 2500 to women whose annual income is up to Rs 35,000 in order to set up a small business of her own. The scheme was set up with an objective of women empowerment and making women self-reliant. In order to apply for the scheme, one has to contact the Anganwadi worker or the District Programme officer or the Child Development Project Officer.
• Women Self-employment Scheme in Himachal Pradesh 2021 (Mahila
Swarojgar Yojana in HP)
The HP Women Self Employment scheme was launched by Himachal Pradesh government to address the needs of women of the state. This is one of the major scheme initiatives undertaken by the state government, to help improve women employment condition throughout the state. The initiate was taken in the year 2005. The main aim was to meet the daily needs of women along with the disabled and provide them adequate financial help. By effective implementation of the scheme, it promotes women empowerment and ushers in better conditions for women in the state.
https://www.pradhanmantriyojana.co.in/women-self-employment-swarojgar-hp/
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
