Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday that up to 40 per cent subsidy would be given to eligible youth in tribal areas for buying buses and traveller vehicles. He said this would help them create livelihood opportunities.
He also said applicants would get a four-month exemption from road tax to support growth in the transport sector.
Chairing the 50th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Tribal Advisory Council in Shimla, Sukhu said the government would give interest subsidies for private solar power projects ranging from 250 kW to 1 MW to promote self-employment in the solar energy sector.
Talking to the media after the meeting, he said a new road would be built at Nigulsari on the Hindustan-Tibet road (National Highway-5) to provide all-weather connectivity to Kinnaur district. He said the road would also ensure smooth movement of security forces.
He said Nigulsari is a sinking zone that faces frequent landslides. The tribal minister had suggested a new road, and efforts are being made to complete it by February 15 so that Kinnaur and Spiti remain connected during the rainy season.
Sukhu directed officials to finish the tender process for development works in snow-bound areas as soon as possible. He said construction activities should begin around March–April when the weather improves.
To resolve power issues in Pangi and Spiti, Sukhu said solar plants of 1.2 MW at Dhanwas (Pangi) and 2 MW at Rong-tong (Spiti) would be made functional soon.
Sukhu said the state government was also trying to start the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki-La and had strongly taken up the matter with the Centre. He added that steps were being taken to resume trade with Tibet.
He said the average per capita income in tribal districts was higher than in other districts. He added that these regions are strong economically and also lead in social indicators, including a better sex ratio.
The chief minister said the government was committed to protecting the rights of women, especially in tribal regions. He said approving pending nautor cases in tribal areas was a key priority for the government.
Nautor cases relate to legal disputes over the allocation and ownership of nautor land, which is government barren land given to landless people for farming under certain rules.
The state cabinet has approved the proposal and sent it to the governor. Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the government has given out around 1,039 land titles till September 2025.
He said Pangi valley had been declared the first Natural Farming Sub-Division of the state. He added that the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojna was launched in Spiti in February 2024 with priority for Scheduled Areas.
The chief minister said the government had set up enough educational and health facilities in tribal regions. These included two regional hospitals, six civil hospitals, five community health centres, 46 primary health centres, three Ayurvedic hospitals, 73 Ayurvedic dispensaries, 48 veterinary hospitals, 118 veterinary dispensaries and five sheep and wool extension centres. He added that 3,148 km of motorable roads had been built in tribal areas, and 61 per cent of them were paved.
Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi said the state government was committed to developing tribal regions. He said Rs 638.73 crore had been allocated for the Tribal Area Development Programme for 2025-26.
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