MANDI (Munish Sood)
A few years ago, Ramesh Chand’s biggest worry was how to provide his children good education.
An auto-rickshaw driver from Bayer village in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, he struggled to make ends meet. But today, he stands tall with pride — his son is a Hydro Engineer and daughter a Civil Engineer.
The family’s remarkable journey from financial struggles to success was made possible not only by Ramesh Chand’s relentless hard work but also by the support of the Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.
Small loan helps boost family income
A small but timely loan helped him secure a new auto-rickshaw, boosting his income and opening doors for his children’s bright future.
For years, Ramesh Chand drove an old auto-rickshaw that had seen better days. The frequent breakdowns and high maintenance costs made it difficult to save money.
His earnings were barely enough to cover household expenses, let alone pay for his children’s higher education.
“I always wanted my children to achieve what I couldn’t. But arranging the money for their studies was a constant challenge,” recalls Ramesh.
In 2023, he learnt about the financial assistance schemes provided by the state government for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families. Encouraged by the possibility of better earnings, he applied for a loan through the SC/ST Development Corporation. The corporation approved his request, providing a loan at just 6% interest to buy a new auto-rickshaw.
With only Rs 23,000 from his pocket, he was able to purchase a new vehicle — an investment that changed his life.
New auto-rickshaw heralds new life
The new auto-rickshaw helped Ramesh Chand increase his earnings significantly. From struggling to make ends meet, he started earning an average of Rs 25,000 per month.
Managing his expenses wisely, he paid off his loan in small installments of Rs 5,000 per month and still had enough to ensure a comfortable life for his family.
But for Ramesh Chand, the real victory was being able to afford quality education for his children. His son pursued hydro engineering, while his daughter enrolled in a private engineering college to study civil engineering.
“Today, when I see my children as engineers, I feel my hard work has paid off. Had I not received the loan, I don’t know how I would have managed,” he says with gratitude.
Government schemes that change lives
Ramesh is just one of the many beneficiaries of the state’s initiatives aimed at empowering underprivileged communities. The Himachal Pradesh SC/ST Development Corporation runs several schemes, including the Self-Employment Scheme, Handicraft Development Scheme, Interest-Free Education Loans, Him Swavalamban Yojana and the Dalit Entrepreneurship Scheme.
Over the past two years, the corporation has disbursed Rs 53.75 lakh in Mandi district alone, benefiting 227 individuals. Out of this, Rs 4.14 lakh was provided as subsidy.
Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan emphasised the importance of ensuring that these schemes reach eligible individuals.
“We are committed to making sure that more people benefit from these programmes. Our aim is to help as many families as possible achieve financial stability,” he stated.
Message for unemployed youth
Ramesh Chand now encourages unemployed youth to explore government schemes rather than give up on their dreams. “If I can turn my life around with this opportunity, so can many others. The government is providing help. You just have to take the first step,” he says.
