SHIMLA -18 September, 2025

Govt offers interest subsidy from 3 to 5 percent for establishing and upgrading Home Stays

Govt approves ‘CM Tourism Startup Scheme in Hospitality Industry’ to boost tourism and employment

To promote tourism and create self-employment opportunities in Himachal Pradesh, the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has approved the launch of an innovative scheme, ‘Chief Minister Tourism Startup Scheme in Hospitality Industry’. Under this scheme, the State Government will provide financial relief on loans taken for establishing new tourism units, such as homestays, as well as for the expansion and upgradation of existing units. The Government will extend an interest subsidy of 3 percent in urban areas, 4 percent in rural areas, and 5 percent in tribal areas on loans up to Rs. 2 crore, for a maximum period of three years from the date of loan disbursement. This facility will be available only to Bonafide Himachalis.

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, the spokesperson of the state government said that homestays play a vital role in attracting tourists by offering affordable alternatives to expensive hotels while encouraging longer stays in rural areas. The scheme aims to tap the immense tourism potential of culturally rich rural regions, thereby creating self-employment avenues and strengthening the State’s economy. The initiative is expected to open new avenues of self-employment for Himachalis and generate robust economic activities across the State.

Homestays also ensure authentic, sustainable travel experiences by allowing visitors to engage directly with local traditions, cuisine, and customs. Affordable stays make destinations accessible to budget travelers, backpackers, and students while ensuring that local communities benefit directly from tourism.

He added that the scheme will significantly boost urban, rural and offbeat tourism, while also formalizing the homestay economy through startups and improving quality standards in hospitality ventures. “Himachal Pradesh, with its clean environment, rivers, forests, sacred shrines, and picturesque valleys, continues to be a bewitching destination for visitors. The tourism and hospitality sector contributes 7.78 percent to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (Economic Survey 2024-25). This scheme reflects the Government’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism by engaging private entrepreneurs in developing tourism infrastructure without disturbing the ecological balance,” the spokesperson said.

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Restoration of disaster-hit schemes in Dharampur assembly Constituency on war footing: Mukesh Agnihotri

The Dharampur Assembly Constituency is grappling with the severe impact of the recent disaster, which badly affected 70 schemes of the Jal Shakti Department. Despite the tough and challenging conditions, the dedicated employees of the department through relentless efforts, have managed to partially restore 48 schemes so far.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the restoration of the remaining schemes was underway on a war footing and the people would get relief soon. Appreciating the commitment of the departmental staff who continued their work even amid the disaster’s and gushing waters, he said that the State Government was according priority to restore essential facilities in the disaster hit areas.

Sh. Agnihotri further assured that the government is active at every level to ensure that the people of Dharampur do not face any inconvenience. He expressed confidence that all schemes will be fully functional shortly, ensuring smooth water supply to the general public.

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Launching a scathing attack on the State BJP for indulging in Politics during the time when the State has suffered colossal losses due to disasters

SHIMLA,18th September, 2025-Launching a scathing attack on the State BJP for indulging in Politics during the time when the State has suffered colossal losses due to disasters, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan said that the State and Central BJP leaders should speak with accountability and not floating such accusations for political gain, which was both irresponsible and misleading.

While addressing a press conference here today, he said that since from last few days, while the government was busy in addressing the grievances of the people affected by disaster and the entire machinery of the State government was involved in restoration and relief works, the BJP leaders were issuing deceptive statements blaming the State government of not providing any financial assistance to the disaster affected and the dismal approach of the Government for restoration works. He advised the BJP leaders, that there was ample time for doing politics over disasters and other issue in interest of the State, but at present they should stand united with the State Government for seeking liberal financial assistance from the centre, he said, adding that it was also the right of the State Government to ask for the assistance and its legitimate share from the centre.

Replying to the statements of State BJP leaders for their accusations that no minister of the Congress government visited the disaster affected areas, Naresh Chauhan said that either they have closed their eyes or cannot digest the fact that Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, walked the entire way from Chamba to Bharmour and camped their till the final evacuation of the stranded Manimahesh Yatris.

Even the Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri, Health Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh and Rajesh Dharmani have visited the disaster hit regions.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has forgotten that the Chief Minister camped in Seraj overnight while monitoring the relief and rescue operations. Even Chander Kumar agriculture Minister and Education Minister Rohit Thakur, RD Minister Anirudh Singh and MLA's have been visiting the disaster hit areas in their respective constituencies.

Sh. Chauhan said that we welcome the Prime Minister, who visited the State sensing the magnitude of the disaster that was even much more destructive from the one in 2023. A total of 419 deaths have been reported during this monsoon till date. The loss is around Rs. 5000 crore, as it was being still assessed and is likely to cross more. The State witnessed loss of Rs. 10,000 crore in 2023 and then also the BJP didn’t stood up with the Government, despite their government in the centre and all MPs from Himachal, the BJP couldn’t get adequate relief amount from Union government.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the state has announced a sum of Rs. 1500 crore for the disaster hit areas, but it is not specified that whether the assistance announced was a scheme specific or in form of a grant. It can be judged that the Prime Minister came only as the magnanimity of the disaster was huge, though the State Government has not received any notification about the amount announced by him, he remarked.

The other four Central Ministers also came to Himachal and visited disaster hit areas but it is not known whether their Ministries have sanctioned any amount or they were here to be in fame and catch headlines of papers.

Giving details he said that the state government gave 4500 disaster relief package from its own resources during 2023 disaster and in 2025 a sum of Rs. 397 crore has been released for relief and rehabilitation from its own resources.

A total of Rs. 256.96 crore has been released to 12 districts. Mandi district received the highest allocation of Rs. 42.87 crore, followed by Kangra with Rs. 32.75 crore and Shimla with Rs. 27.38 crore. Other districts include Chamba Rs. 26.85 crore, Kullu Rs. 21.34 crore, Sirmaur Rs. 19.29 crore, Solan Rs. 18.24 crore, Una Rs. 16.74 crore, Hamirpur Rs. 15.80 crore, Bilaspur Rs. 13.89 crore, Lahaul-Spiti Rs. 11.43 crore, and Kinnaur Rs. 10.39 crore.

In addition, Rs. 140 crore has been released to various departments, municipal corporations, fire services and home guards to strengthen relief and rehabilitation measures across the state.

Apart from this, the State Government took a decision to amend the relief manual and enhanced the compensation package. For a completely damaged house the compensation of Rs. 1.30 lakh has been increased more than five times to rupees seven lakh. Apart from this, the compensation of Rs. 12,500 for partially damaged house has been enhanced to rupees one lakh.

Furthermore, the compensation of Rs. 10,000 given in case of damaged shop or dhaba has been enhanced ten times to rupees one lakh. The State Government will also provide increased financial assistance of Rs. 50,000 instead of Rs. 10,000 for the damaged cowsheds. It will also offer an assistance of Rs. 50,000 for damage or loss of belongings of the tenants, whereas the owner will receive Rs. 70,000 for the loss of belongings. Rs. 55,000 per animal will be granted for the loss of large milch animals instead of Rs. 37,500 while the compensation for the loss of goat, pig, sheep and lamb has been increased from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 9,000 per animal. For agriculture losses also the State Government has also increased the compensation of loss of crops.

However, the assistance provided was just like a 'Drop in an Ocean' when the loss was assessed around Rs. 10,000 crore in 2023 and was nearly touching 5000 crore in 2025. If BJP leaders are wise enough, they can compare the relief given by the centre as against the huge loss suffered.

He negated the statement of Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut who is issuing misleading Statements that the Central Government has provided Rs. 10 thousand crores to the disaster affected Himachal. He asked Kangna to give details of the funds she mentioned.

He challenged the BJP leaders to present concrete evidence and not air the rumours for always being in the news headlines.

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Health Minister presides over Rogi Kalyan Samiti meeting

Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil while chairing the meeting of the Governing body of Rogi Kalyan Samiti of HP Dental College Shimla here today. He reviewed the achievements and performance during last three financial years.

Keeping in view the acute shortage of class-IV in this institution governing council is requested to accord approval to outsource or higher class-IV employees through Rogi Kalyan Samiti.

The Minister said that the State government was providing quality health services to the people of the state and with the introduction of new technique and technology the health facilities has improved the a lot particularly in rural and far-flung areas benefiting the patients. He said that the government has started the initiated the process for filling up the post of 200 doctors and 400 nurses to strengthen the health infrastructure and said that in a recent cabinet held on Monday 28 dialysis centres has been approved in Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans in nine district to ensure better health services to the people closer to their home.

The Minister also emphasized upon streamlining the dental services.

MLA Harish Janartha, Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, Special Secretary Health Ashwani Sharma, Director Medical Education and Research Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Director Dental Health Services Dr. Satish Chaudhary, Principal HP Govt. Dental College and Hospital Dr. Ashu Gupta and other members of Rogi Kalyan Samiti were also present in the meeting.

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