category Regional, shimla, , tags Regional, shimla, , DW BUREAU Shimla Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government has taken several measures to strengthen the economy of the horticulturists of the state. He said that the state government was conducting a legal study to implement universal cartons in order to make the apple growers of the state economically empowered. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was addressing a delegation of Theog assembly constituency, led by Devender Shyam, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Co-operative Bank, which met him here today. The Chief Minister said that the state government has taken various steps for setting up Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores, so that the horticulturists could get remunerative prices of their produce, thereby protecting them from any kind of exploitation of middlemen. Apart from this, it was also being considered to set up an apple-based distillery, which would provide an additional source of income to the horticulturists as they could sell under size and rotten apples for winery products, he added. He said that the state government in its first Green Budget, made a provision of 50 per cent subsidy for the purchase of e-bus, e-truck and e-taxi besides giving 40 per cent subsidy for setting up solar power projects ranging from 250 KW to 2 MW capacity in the State. He asked the Himachal Pradesh Co-operative Bank to provide loans for both these schemes liberally, so that the youth could get self-employment avenues and play a pivotal role in realizing government s resolve of Green Energy State. Both these flagship programs could bring a radical change in the lives of the youth and could also generate income for their families, said the Chief Minister and added that the tangible results of these programs of the government would be visible after two years. He said that the bank should work for the welfare of the farmers by providing generous loans to them for agriculture, fisheries and horticulture sectors, so that the rural economy of the state could also be strengthened. He said that the government was taking appropriate decisions and working with commitment for the welfare of every section of the society. A provision has been made in the budget to provide financial assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh to 7000 single women for construction of the house, as well as loan at one per cent interest to meritorious poor students for higher education. He said that in order to increase its income, the government has auctioned liquor vends and imposed water cess on the state s hydropower projects. The Chief Minister said that the party workers were being given due respect in the present government and Theog area has been provided due importance in the government. (editor dailyworld.in)