Jogindernagar’s Uttam Singh turns a government-supported initiative into an additional income source of ₹50,000 a year; subsidy and training provide a boost to rural entrepreneurship
Munish Sood
JOGINDERNAGAR
At a time when creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural youth remains a key challenge, Uttam Singh of Kund village in Mandi district has demonstrated how self-employment can begin with a modest investment, the right training and effective use of government support.
By taking up fish farming under the Himachal Pradesh government’s Chief Minister’s Fisheries Scheme, Singh has established an additional source of income, earning approximately ₹50,000 annually. His experience highlights the potential of fisheries as a self-employment option for people in rural areas who want to supplement their earnings and gradually build their own enterprises.
Government subsidy reduces the cost of starting a business
Singh ventured into fish farming in 2025, when he constructed a pond at a cost of approximately ₹62,000. Under the scheme, he received a government subsidy of ₹49,600, covering 80 per cent of the pond construction cost.
The financial assistance significantly reduced his initial investment burden, making it easier for him to enter the business. Instead of waiting for a conventional job opportunity, he chose to explore an income-generating activity that could be developed using local resources.
Training turns an opportunity into an enterprise
Financial assistance was complemented by technical training. Singh participated in a three-day government-organised training programme in Odisha, where he gained essential knowledge about fish farming.
After completing the training, he introduced 2,000 fish seeds into his pond and began operations. The combination of financial support, technical guidance and personal effort helped him establish fish farming as a viable supplementary livelihood.
He now earns around ₹50,000 annually from the activity and plans to expand the venture to increase his income further.
Self-employment beyond conventional jobs
Singh’s initiative carries a broader message for rural youth: employment opportunities can also be created by starting small enterprises based on local resources, individual skills and available government assistance.
Activities such as fish farming can offer an alternative for those seeking to diversify household income. However, success depends on proper training, suitable infrastructure, efficient management and access to markets.
Singh encouraged unemployed youth to explore self-employment opportunities rather than depending entirely on government and private-sector jobs. He said young people should assess their interests and capabilities and consider ventures that can be started on a manageable scale and expanded over time.
A push towards rural economic independence
Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Singh said the Chief Minister’s Fisheries Scheme had helped him take the first step towards establishing his own income-generating activity.
His experience underlines the role that targeted subsidies and skill-development programmes can play in encouraging rural entrepreneurship. By lowering entry barriers and providing technical know-how, such initiatives can help people turn available resources into productive assets.
For Himachal Pradesh, where livelihood diversification is important for rural households, Uttam Singh’s journey offers a practical example of how government support can help individuals move beyond job-seeking towards self-employment and greater financial independence.
