In a significant push to foster self-employment and curb outward migration, the Uttarakhand government on Wednesday disbursed a substantial financial boost to thousands of its residents. A sum of Rs 33.22 crore was directly transferred to the bank accounts of 3,848 beneficiaries under the state's flagship Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojna.
Scheme Details and Impactful Subsidies
Originally launched during the challenging COVID-19 phase, the Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojna is designed to empower permanent residents of the hill state. It provides crucial loan support for a variety of projects, categorised broadly into manufacturing, services, and business ventures. The scheme sets a cost ceiling of Rs 25 lakh for manufacturing units and Rs 10 lakh for service and business units.
A key incentive is the provision of a margin money subsidy ranging from 15% to 25% on the total project cost. This direct financial assistance significantly reduces the initial capital burden on new entrepreneurs, making business dreams more attainable.
Exceeding Targets and Creating Local Employment
The scheme's success is evident in its numbers, which have surpassed initial expectations. To date, over 35,000 individuals have benefited from the initiative, exceeding the original target of 32,000. The total loan amount disbursed under the scheme has crossed a remarkable Rs 1,389 crore.
Perhaps the most telling metric of its success is job creation. The scheme is credited with generating approximately 64,966 jobs at the local level, providing a strong alternative to migration for employment. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised the scheme's ground-level effectiveness, stating it aims to transform the state's youth from job seekers into job providers.
"It is one of the major schemes of the state which has played an important role in actually stopping migration, promoting reverse migration and creating employment at the local level," Dhami added.
Beneficiary Profile and a Success Story
The scheme casts a wide net, aiming to support diverse sections of society. Key beneficiary groups include:
- COVID-19 returnees who came back to their native state during the pandemic.
- Young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas.
- Traditional artisans seeking to modernise their crafts.
- Educated unemployed youth looking for self-reliant opportunities.
Inspired by the scheme's impact, the government has already launched Swarozgar Yojna 2.0 in 2025, ensuring continued support with subsidies being directly credited to bank accounts for transparency and efficiency.
A tangible example of this initiative's success is Kamal Singh Parthaoli, a resident of Lohaghat in Champawat district. He received a loan of Rs 10 lakh to establish a smart library. His venture currently serves 130 children, and he has plans to expand it into an e-library, bridging the digital divide in his community.
The Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojna stands as a cornerstone of Uttarakhand's strategy for economic resilience. By providing financial leverage and reducing risk for new enterprises, the government is actively building a ecosystem where local talent can thrive, thereby strengthening the socio-economic fabric of the state from within.
